Epiphany Records Store
Bet Williams: The 11th Hour
Bet Williams: The 11th Hour
Hallelujah! It’s finally here! The first studio CD of all new material in 7 years and it’s been worth the wait.
Bet Williams CD “The 11th Hour” is the kind of music you can listen to again and again, hearing new sounds, new meaning in the words and new favorites amongst the eclectic collection of the album’s 15 songs. The music straddles rock, blues, pop and folk while Bet’s four octave voice soars above it all or whispers from below. The vocals have a natural and earthy sound as they deliver the conversational poetry that has become Bet’s trademark.
The opening track begins with what sounds like sheep on a hillside then launches into the rhythmically infectious “We Geography”, a song about traveling around the world complete with street sounds and various languages. Next is “Love Comes Knockin’”, a bluesy anthem that suggests surrender when love comes to the door. “Magnolia” is a haunting, uplifting song from the perspective of an Army brat struggling with what it means to have dad go off to war. “Moon River on the Hudson” is the album’s folky acoustic song about raising a child in New York City, while “Yeah Love”, the closest thing to a pop song Bet has ever written, also has a great message.
Producer John Hodian treats each song in different and interesting ways highlighting Williams’ voice with string quartet and horns on several pieces or banjo on another. The deft use of unusual loops and intricate soundscapes transport the music far from traditional singer-songwriter fare and it all hangs together in a deeply emotional way throughout it’s musical voyage.