O Sun O Moon
NEW FROM BRUCE COCKBURN: ‘O SUN O MOON’ – a review
by Ickmusic
1 May 2023 – In 53 years of writing and recording, there’s been an undercurrent of spirituality in the music of Canadian Bruce Cockburn. He’s always had a knack for painting a picture of his Christian faith in a way that doesn’t hit you over the head, using the beauty and mystery of the natural world to illustrate the wonder of it all (just listen to my all-time favorite album of his, Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws, and you’ll know what I mean).
His innate kindness and empathy for his fellow humans has always drawn me to him. Bruce Cockburn is one of the good ones (and criminally underappreciated in these United States, but I’ll digress).
With O Sun O Moon, due out May 12th on True North records, Bruce’s spiritual side steps out of the shadows and, well, “Into the Now.”
Bruce Cockburn will turn 78 this month, and after a tough collective few years for all of us, Bruce brings out themes of faith, mortality, love, conflict and climate in this beautiful collection of songs.
Recorded at on/off band member, album producer & pal Colin Linden’s backyard studio in Nashville, the album features some quality guests – from Buddy Miller and Sarah Jarosz to Shawn Colvin and Allison Russell ( have you heard Nightflyer? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNJgwj8d9eo ).
From the get go, Bruce faces that ticking clock and his faith head on with “I’m On A Roll”:
Pressure building left and right / Timer ticking, just out of sight / I’m taking shelter in the light
Time takes its toll / But in my soul / I’m on a roll
The powerful “Orders” addresses the oft overlooked yet plain and simple mantra of “Love thy neighbor”:
The sweet, the vile, the small, the tall The one who rises to the call / The list is long — as I recall / Our orders said to love them all
Not an easy concept to adhere to, is it? But nonetheless, as Bruce illustrates so well throughout the record, it’s the foundation of his faith.
With the backing of Shawn Colvin’s beautiful voice, the sweet, laid back front-porch feel of “Push Comes to Shove” continues the message: “push comes to shove / It’s all about love.”
In July 2021, Bruce vacationed in Maui with Dr. Jeff Garner, the lead pastor of the San Francisco Lighthouse church, which Bruce attends. In addition to helping lead a Sunday service, Bruce spent some quality time writing tunes. The first song he wrote is my personal favorite, “Into the Now,” www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jaBq-Z18Ls which has been a staple of his solo acoustic show ever since (I was lucky enough to see him play it in Scottsdale last year). It’s a Cockburn special: timely, poignant lyrics, a chorus that varies each of the first three times before tying all together exquisitely at the end; strung together words like: “Light as the feet of birds hunting on sod / Love trickles down like honey from God”; Sarah Jarosz on harmonies and mandolin. I mean, come on (!), it gets no better.
Another Maui-written song, “Colin Went Down To The Water” was released to streaming services a few weeks back. Featuring background vocals by Allison Russell, Buddy Miller and Colin Linden, the spiritual call and response of the song instantly connected with me (listen below).
The third Maui song is “King of the Bolero,” where Bruce channels a raspy, bluesy vocal to tell the story of a nightclub guitarist who’s “Got a double chin all the way round his neck / And a pot belly in the back.” Not a flattering image, and it makes me wonder who inspired this (internet sleuthing tells me the nightclub in the the Maui Grand Wailea Hotel is the Botero lounge. The Colombian artist Botero is mentioned in the song. Did Bruce write this while taking in some entertainment at the Botero? Hmm…).
Bruce’s resonator guitar, Gary Craig’s xylophone, Viktor Strauss’s bowed bass and Jenny Scheinman’s gorgeous violin usher in the sublime “Us All” (also available on the streaming services). It’s a hypnotic, mournful plea to “let kindness reign for Us All.”
The welcome sound of Bruce’s dulcimer rings in “To Keep the World We Know,” a sobering take on climate change, sung with indigenous Canadian artist Susan Aglukark (who sings in a native Inuit language called Inuktitut). An important message; and rhythmically reminiscent of Bruce’s great 1977 tune “Arrows of Light.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GfCrNp0nTI
The closing songs of O Sun O Moon bring it all back to the theme of faith & mortality in their own unique ways. The penultimate tune is the prayerful “O Sun By Day O Moon By Night,” featuring spoken word verses building to a joyous chorus prayer with gospel-soaked background vocals:
O sun by day o moon by night / Light my way so I get this right / And if that sun and moon don’t shine/ Heaven guide these feet of mine / To Glory
The album finale, “When You Arrive,” culminates in a singalong chorus featuring the full cast of previously mentioned characters. With a sauntering, New Orleans style rhythm, the repeated chorus brings to my mind an image of Bruce and the gang second-lining lazily down a French Quarter street, shuffling contently off into the distance – firm in their faith – and ready for whatever may be waiting around corner.
Pre-Order O Sun O Moon.
My Top Shelf Bruce Cockburn playlist on Spotify.
Credit: Ickmusic
Bruce Cockburn Announces 44 Date North American & UK Tour
In Support Of Forthcoming Album, O Sun O Moon, out on May 12 via True North Records
Purchase: truenorthrecords.com/brucecockburn/
Watch lyric videos:
To Keep the World We Know (Lyric Video) – Bruce Cockburn feat. Susan Aglukark
Us All
Colin Went Down To The Water
On A Roll
Listen:
Haiku
April 16, 2023 SAN FRANCISCO Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed an illustrious career shaped by politics, spirituality, and musical diversity. His remarkable journey has seen him embrace folk, jazz, rock, and worldbeat styles while earning high praise as a prolific, inspired songwriter and accomplished guitarist. He remains deeply respected for his activism and humanist song lyrics that thread throughout his career. On all his albums Cockburn has deftly captured the joy, pain, fear, and faith of human experience in song.
Bruce Cockburn has won 13 JUNO Awards, an induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, and has been made an Officer of the Order of Canada, among many other accolades. He has 22 gold and platinum records including a six-times platinum record for his Christmas album. Cockburn continues to tour internationally.
Download Artist Images Here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QtqesbPWqzUDsnZ2o2hTGoHLvut3vL0o
Full O Sun O Moon Bio:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gtfFNxWhbI8FIFAwYLOfBK6xWXQmtkI7QgGm6yp_JpQ/edit
“Time takes its toll,” sings the 77-year-old Bruce Cockburn on the opening song, “On A Roll,” his 38th album, O Sun O Moon, out on May 12 via True North Records. “But in my soul / I’m on a roll.”
He’s on a roll.
BRUCE COCKBURN 2023 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
JUN 1 PLYMOUTH NH FLYING MONKEY CENTER
JUN 2 BEVERLY MA THE CABOT
JUN 3 HARTFORD CT INFINITY HALL
JUN 4 NEW YORK NY CITY WINERY
JUN 7 BETHLEHEM PA MUSIKFEST CAFÉ
JUN 8 PHOENIXVILLE PA COLONIAL THEATRE
JUN 9 WASHINGTON DC WARNER THEATRE
JUN 10 GREENSBURG PA PALACE THEATRE
JUN 12 BUFFALO NY ASBURY HALL BABEVILLE
JUN 13 KENT OH KENT STAGE
JUN 14 ROYAL OAK MI ROYAL OAK THEATRE
JUN 16 CINCINNATI OH LUDLOW GARAGE
JUN 17 NASHVILLE TN CMA THEATRE
JUN 18 ATLANTA GA VARIETY PLAYHOUSE
JUN 24 KENSINGTON CA COVENTRY GROVE
AUG 10 WHISTLER BC OLYMPIC PLAZA
AUG 24 OXFORD UK ACADEMY 2
AUG 25 LONDON UK SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE
AUG 26 KETTERING UK GREENBELT FESTIVAL
AUG 30 BOULDER CO ETOWN HALL RADIO TAPING
SEP 1 PEGOSA SPRINGS CO 4 CORNERS FOLK FESTIVAL
OCT 11 HAMILTON ON FIRST ONTARIO HALL
OCT 12 MONTREAL QB GESU-ELISE
OCT 14 QUEBEC CITY QB IMPERIAL BELL
OCT 16 FREDERICTON NB THE PLAYHOUSE
OCT 17 CHARLOTTETOWN NB CONFEDERATION CENTRE
OCT 19 MONCTON NB CAPITOL THEATRE
OCT 20 NEW GLASGOW NS WELLNESS CENTRE
OCT 21 HALIFAX NS REBECCA COHN
OCT 23 PORTLAND ME STATE THEATRE
OCT 24 OLD SAYBROOK CT KATHARINE HEPBURN ARTS
OCT 25 NORTHAMPTON MA ACADEMY OF MUSIC
OCT 27 RUTLAND VT PARAMOUT THEATRE
OCT 28 ITHACA NY HANGAR THEATRE
OCT 30 NELSONVILLE OH STUART’S OPERA HOUSE
NOV 1 CARMEL IN TARKINGTON CENTRE
NOV 2 MILWAUKEE WI SOUTH MILWAUKEE PAC
NOV 3 CHICAGO IL OLD TOWN SCHOOL
NOV 4 CHICAGO IL OLD TOWN SCHOOL
NOV 17 SANTA MONICA CA MCCABE’S GUITAR SHOP
NOV 18 SANTA BARBARA CA LOBERO THEATRE
NOV 30 SACRAMENTO CA CREST THEATRE
DEC 1 BERKELEY CA FREIGHT & SALVAGE
DEC 2 BERKELEY CA FREIGHT & SALVAGE
For further information, contact:
US – Karin Johnson – karin@markpuccimedia.com
Canada – Eric Alper – eric@truenorthrecords.com
UK – Geraint Jones – gpromo@btinternet.com
~from Mark Pucci Media
Listen to Colin Went Down To The Water from O Sun O Moon
Colin Went Down To The Water, the second single released from the new album O Sun O Moon
Composer: Bruce Cockburn
Animation by Kurt Swinghammer
(c) Linus Entertainment Inc. Marketed by True North Records.
Purchase: True North Records
Listen to Us All, new song from O Sun O Moon
O Sun O Moon is scheduled for release on May 12, 2023
Bruce’s 38th studio album
by True North Records
O Sun O Moon is Cockburn’s latest studio album available May 12, 2023 from True North Records, a collection of 12 new original songs that demonstrate the songwriting and guitar-playing skills that come from more than 55 years of artistry. He has 22 gold and platinum records including a 6 times platinum record for his Christmas album. Cockburn continues to tour internationally.
You can listen to the track, Us All, on YouTube or on iTunes. You can pre/purchase this album at True North Records.
Track Listing:
1. On a Roll
2. Orders
3. Push Come to Shove
4. Colin Went Down to the Water
5. Into the Now
6. Us All
7. To Keep the World We Know
8. King of the Bolero
9. When the Spirit Walks in the Room
10. Haiku
11. O Sun By Day O Moon By Night
12. When You Arrive
From the album O Sun O Moon – get it here: True North Records
Composer: Bruce Cockburn
Animation by Kurt Swinghammer
(c) Linus Entertainment Inc. Marketed by True North Records.