I'm very much looking forward to the Anathallo concert Thursday at the 930.  Last week I finally took the time to sit in my car with their new CD, Canopy Glow, turned up full blast.  I read through the lyric sheets as it played and was amazed at the depth of the music.  The vocals are so acrobatic, I hadn't really heard most of what they were actually saying until I read along.  "Northern Lights" was the climax for me.

"You paper cut the air above the tundra when you came back in silence, in sheets, and the neighbors called me out of my sleep to watch you unfold the blanket.  Wrap me back into the womb.  The first thought is fear, and brother, it emits a crippling bend.  A shame you can't know that you carry until you've seen it offered down.  Watching shielded in the silence, shielded in the knowledge that has no use for language.  Standing on the lawn at a distance.  Watching shielded in the silence.  Shielded in the knowledge that has no use for language.  Standing on the lawn until you wish to be crushed in its collisions.  You paper cut the air above the tundra when you came back in silence, in sheets, and the neighbors called me up."

The cover art for Canopy Glow is a haunting painting by Chicago artist Tim Lowly.  We put up an exhibit of Tim's wonderful paintings last fall at the 930 and he stayed at our house for a weekend with some musician friends who play music with the Tim Lowly ensemble (Tim has not only mastered painting, but songwriting and performing also).  The painting on the album cover is of the artist's daughter, Temma, who is severely disabled.  What's disturbing about the image is that she is laying helplessly in a desert landscape.  Initially disturbing, the cover art works well with the album upon a deeper listen.  The image particularly resonates with "The River" and with "Noni's Field" both of which have a death theme.

Tim Lowly's wife is a minister at Berry United Methodist Church in Chicago, and when they met Anathallo, they were able to offer practice space to the band inside the church building.  Talking with Tim, I was really impressed with the easy and natural way he and his church were able to use their resources to help out a band.

Also, my friend Greg Leppert, who played trumpet in Anathallo for a short season, did the album design.  Good job, Greg.  Good job, Tim Lowly.  Good job, Anathallo.

Anathallo plays the 930 with Chemic Thursday April 16, 2009 @ 7:30 p.m.  6:30 doors. $10.