"Dharma Dream" by Bob & Wendy

a Review by Amy Producer of Collected Sounds

I've reviewed Bob & Wendy in the past and have always enjoyed their CDs. In fact, it was this group that made me realize I actually liked Americana music. Back then I thought that was just a new word for country.

This album seems to have swayed a little from that classification. I think this is more straight folk. Contemporary folk, not protest song-folk. At any rate they've put out another great record.

"Will o' the Wisp" is a great song with which to open the CD. Wendy's comforting voice is in top form here. It's so nice to pop in something that you just know you're going to like and hear that familiar voice again.

The songwriting, as usual is superb. Slightly dirgy, grungy and so unique. I've heard hundreds of records in the past year and nothing sounds like this. Honestly. They use not only guitar and voice, but also strings including the cello and mandocello (I'd never heard of it either, but it's lovely).

The lyrics are as well thought out as the tunes. The liner notes say that Wendy wrote these as part of her spiritual journey. The themes are lovely: Loss, discovery… Sad at times, but always intriguing.

I was happy to hear "Still Small Voice" again as that was the first song I ever heard of theirs and I still love it. It was track one on their first CD, Behind the Blue.

"Beginner's Mind" is another new favorite of mine.

If you take a listen to the tracks here and like what you hear, you'll like the whole record. Then if you do, pick up their others as well. You won't be disappointed.

Posted on January 18, 2006