Kath Bloom/Loren MazzaCane Connors
1981-1984
Megalon
Folk music, like most music, is bound for cyclical revival. Kath Bloom teamed with the ubiquitous and outstanding guitarist Loren MazzaCane Connors in the early 80’s, and her voice accompanies his acoustic renderings like a family confession at the favorite uncle’s wake. Indeed, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” mirrors fervent prayer with its hope and fear. The other thirteen tracks, live and studio takes, are no less “serious.” This is moving music. This is folk music; the avant scene accepted it.
Connors’ acoustic picking sits outside folks’ well-worn path, and Bloom’s sad (what a super adjective) voice so resembles Susanne Langille’s that the recordings are reminiscent of Come Night (one of several Connors/Langille collaborations). Additional guitar and backing vocals join Connors on a handful of songs. Bloom penned all lyrics sans the gospel piece, and the last track, “Homeless Dream,” is a 1996 composition performed sans Connors. While more straightforward, Bloom’s delivery is assured and compelling. Remember that cyclical notion? How odd it is, to me, that the obtrusive and self-inflated consciousness of thee folk scene couldn’t handle such a genuine article as this.
Megalon Records, P.O. Box 460383, San Francisco, CA 94146; http://www.megalon.com/
