O Sun O Moon
True North, 2023
8/10
Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed a career spanning 5 decades now, and even at 77 the Canadian legend shows no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by this exceptional 35th album.
“On A Roll” opens the listen with Cockburn’s distinct voice and warm resonator guitar alongside Gary Craig’s fluid drumming and Viktor Krauss’ playful upright bass, and “Orders” follows with Jim Hoke’s moody clarinet and marimba that adds much to the mysterious landscape.
Halfway through, “Into The Now” welcomes Jeff Taylor’s accordion to the intimate landscape of beauty, while “To Keep The World We Know” has Cockburn playing dulcimer amid Susan Aglukark’s harmonies and Sarah Jarosz’s mandolin.
“O Sun By Day O Moon By Night” lands near the end, and unfolds with a mix talking and singing that showcases Hoke’s marimba, clarinet and sax in the dreamy climate, and “When You Arrive” exits with Chris Brown’s agile drums and vocals from Shawn Colvin, Allison Russell, Buddy Miller and others for the collaborative finish.
An artist whose vision has been shaped by politics, spirituality, and diversity, Cockburn embraces folk, jazz, rock, and worldly ideas on yet another top notch installment of thoughtful song craft.
Travels well with: Lynn Miles- TumbleTweedyWorld; Meredith Moon- Constellations