Tempting the Storm
Cara Luft
Blue Case Tunes
2001
11 tracks
The music of Winnipeg's Cara Luft invites comparison. Luft's sound is very Canadian. I tend to think of this sound as the Sarah McLachlan school of performance. Since McLachlan's 1988 debut, and especially since the success of the Lilith Fairs, increasing numbers of new and even established artists, mostly Canadian, have been drawn toward her style. That sound can heard often in the recordings of Sarah Harmer, frequently in the songs of Ani Difranco and Sheryl Crow, sometimes in more recent songs by K. D. Lang, and... in most of the songs on Cara Luft's Tempting the Storm.
That Sarah McLachlan should be an influence on this artist is no surprise. McLachlan has been a tremendous influence on countless younger Canadian songwriters and singers. Cara Luft has also enjoyed the benefit of performing as an opening act at McLachlan's 1998 Lilith Fair in Calgary, Alberta.
Of course, there are other influences present and they invigorate Luft's music with their diversity. Born to professional folk singer parents (probably Calgary's Barry and Lyn Luft, but the publicity materials do not specify), Cara Luft was exposed to folk music early on and began playing and singing as a young girl. Folk elements play a primary role in several of her songs and show up in even the most McLachlanesque pieces.
This release includes two traditional songs. "My Johnny was a Shoemaker" begins with a lovely, sorrowful a capella verse then breaks into a more lively full-instrumented tempo. The story is one we've all heard before, about the longing of poor lass for her lover who has gone to seek his fortune on the sea. On this track, the very long drum extro does seem excessive. A song of the lass deceived by a false lover, "The Blacksmith" is an emotional a capella number featuring beautiful harmonies. Luft makes these traditional songs sound fresh and new.
"When You Gonna Be Home?" also stands out from the rest of the songs on this release. This song harks back to the early Sheryl Crow recordings. It has a very new-country sound but with a folksy edge to it. Unlike Luft's other lyrics which have a contemporary feel, the words of this song read like a traditional folk lyric. This is also probably the best written lyric on Tempting the Storm
Cara Luft has a full, strong voice capable not just of a powerful musical range but of a full range of emotions. Without being over-theatrical, every song is imbued with deep feeling that helps to bring to life the story within. I can only imagine the power that such performances must bring to the stage.
Read all about Cara Luft and listen to some clips of her music at www.caraluft.com. Cara Luft is also a founding member of The Wailin Jennys. You can find out more about this Canadian trio at www.thewailinjennys.com.
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Review written: March 3, 2005
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