Chris Weisman - The Holy Life That's Coming (2015)

NNA set off the new year with the latest full-length record by veteran songwriter Chris Weisman. A long-time resident of the creatively fertile valleys of Brattleboro, Vermont, “The Holy Life That’s Coming” is the newest addition to his vast, accomplished discography that includes numerous full-lengths, limited cassette editions, collaborations, and conceptually ambitious releases (the 2012 88-song YouTube release “Maya Properties”, for example). However prolific, Weisman remains somewhat of a cultural hermit, remaining quietly tucked away on his throne in the hills of “Beatleboro”, giving very scant live performances or appearances, and little public insight into his music and creative world. Weisman instead remains a reclusive gardener diligently tending his artistic crops. Fortunately, we as listeners are given rewarding musical offerings in the form of his unique and personal recordings that serve as documents of the creative process, and as insight into Chris’ observations on the world around him. Militantly adhering to a limited palette, his recordings are all captured and constructed on a four-track cassette recorder, lending to the intimate, homegrown quality of the songs contained within. In the case of “The Holy Life…” in particular, the instrumentation is limited to steel string guitar and voice, with the occasional subtle keyboard accompaniment. These rudimentary tools are a deceptively conventional songwriting setting for content so melodically, harmonically, and lyrically unconventional as Weisman’s songs.