Laughter Out of Tears (Whim Records, 2014)
Moira Smiley & VOCO have released Laughter Out of Tears, an album of beautiful vocal music employing various techniques and crossing musical genres. Some of the songs have a familiar feel, with Appalachian influences. However, when the group crosses international boundaries and goes a cappella, the material gets much more interesting, specially the three ‘Dream’ circular songs.
One of the highlights of the album is a global choir called the Choir of You, featured in some parts of the album. Over two hundred voices participated, from various parts of the world such as Australia, Europe, and all throughout North America, straight from their homes.
“I’ve had the Choir of You idea for a while,” Smiley describes, “but it seemed so appropriate for this album for a few reasons: My father died in 2012, I was feeling lost artistically, and communal singing was always a source of strength – a root for me. I write for choirs, and I know how powerful a gathering of voices can be. The Choir of YOU was a perfect way to bring myself ‘home’ again.”
Highlights include traditional the mesmerizing ‘Dream Intro’, Swedish song ‘Visa Fran Jarna’, ‘I Live in California’ , ‘Dream-Dve Nevesti’, ‘Deportee’ and the delightful whistling song ‘Whistle Daughter Whistle’ and the fascinating whispers of ‘Dream Outro’.
Regarding the process of working with people from afar, Moira explains: “People could download the tracks from my website, add their own voice by following the guide-tracks and sheet-music I posted there, and then email their tracks to me. Easy! Really, it was only the mixing that was tricky; that took several days to complete – but was one of the highlights of my year.”
The lineup on the album includes Moira Smiley on vocals, accordion, banjo, and body percussion; Laura Cortese on fiddle, vocals; Abigail Nessen Bengson on vocals, body percussion; Pilar Díaz on vocals, body percussion, ukulele; Sally Dworsky on vocals; Emily Eagen on vocals, ukulele, body percussion, and whistling; Inga Swearingen on vocals, body percussion, and guitar. Guests include Dave Weber on guitar, Bobby Rothschild on percussion, Char Rothschild on trumpet, and of course the VOCO choir.
Mora Smiley has worked with artists as varied as Paul Hillier, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, KITKA, Tim O’Brien, Solas and tUnE-yArDs, and has performed everything from Stockhausen and Stravinsky to traditional folk music – which remains her deepest love, to the level that she’s spent time as a song collector in the Balkans. She’s recorded Irish sean-nós on her solo record Rua, been featured on radio, television and films, taught at the University of Birmingham in England and several American universities, and been the recipient of a fortunate list of grants and awards.
In 2006 Smiley formed VOCO, a five-piece group of singers and players, with an improvisational approach to American and Eastern European folk music, and Smiley’s polyphonic originals.
“The band is made up of spare ingredients,” she says. “There’s usually cello, always body percussion, and everyone sings, of course. I write for three or four voices in harmony, and I play banjo and accordion.”
Laughter Out of Tears is one of the most captivating vocal music releases of the year.
Tour Dates Include:
Sept 15th – Westminster College, Fulton, MO
Sept. 21st – SOLO show, Tourterella Inn, New Haven, VT
Sept. 26th – Jewett Auditorium, Caldwell, ID
Sept. 27th – CalTech University, Pasadena, CA
Sept. 28th – The Episcopal Church, San Francisco, CA
Sept. 29th – Marin School of the Arts, Novato, CA
Oct. 7th – Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA
The album is available from http://www.moirasmiley.com/recordings/cds/loot.html
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
