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Binkelman's Corner by Bill Binkelman |
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Bill Binkelman is a long-time icon in the industry. |
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| A Moment's Peace |
| By Eric Tingstad & Nancy Rumbel |
| Label: Cheshire Records |
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| A Moment's Peace tracks |
1. Lucinda 
2. Over the Rainbow
3. Carolina
4. Stars
5. Chaco
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6. Crazy
7. Twilight
8. Watercolor
9. A Moment's Peace
10. What a Wonderful World
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A Moments Piece |
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If there are such things as musical constants in the universe, Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel must appear on any such list. Few, if any, artists consistently, through the years, have delivered such a consistent flow of quality music, earmarked by a signature sound yet with little sign of repetition (other than the trademark sound of their instruments) and always suffused by a palpable sense of sincerity, passion and dedication to their craft, as well as the world at large (through their tireless efforts on behalf of the environment). The duo who hails from the Pacific Northwest are possessed of unassailable integrity and immense talent. I’ve been one of their fans since around 1990 and I can’t imagine ever leaving the fold.
A Moment’s Peace sees guitarist Tingstad and woodwind player Rumbel paring down to the bare minimum (no keyboards or percussion whatsoever) to craft ten instrumentals which evoke just what the CD’s title aims for, i.e. “A Moment’s Peace.” Discretely integrating some choice standards (Over the Rainbow, Crazy and What a Wonderful World) with their usual excellent self-penned compositions, the two musicians perfectly capture the essence of the album’s cover graphic (a solitary Adirondack chair on a sandy beach under a pale grey sky). Plaintive, introspective, somber yet delicate and even pretty, the music on A Moment’s Peace is the perfect soundtrack for cloudy afternoons sitting in the living room, late nights by the fireside, or even quiet Sunday mornings with the newspaper, enjoying a cup of joe.
Lucinda highlights Tingstad’s superb fingering abilities with a long intro before Rumbel’s sublime oboe colors the track with soft shades of violet. Stars has a slightly more upbeat pace thanks to Rumbel’s lilting fluid style, but still retains an overall quiet sense of grace and charm. Chaco has, as one might assume, a subtle Native American feel to it, with Rumbel’s ocarina substituting for a wooden flute at the outset. There is a feeling of sadness to the piece but it also holds the strain of unmistakable deep power. Twilight is heartrendingly exquisite, painting a sonic portrait of fading light with the mixture of Tingstad’s lyrical picking and Rumbel’s flowing English horn. The title track carries a hint of the duo’s trademark English folk influence and has a pastoral sound to it, while the pair’s gently swaying cover of What a Wonderful World concludes the CD in grand fashion, sashaying at a relaxed pace and evoking all the right nostalgic emotions which this classic song should produce.
Acoustic instrumental music simply doesn’t get any better – period. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that these two supremely talented musicians have released yet another excellent album. One is left to wonder at their incredible longevity as well as their continued perseverance in doing what they do best but without overtly repeating themselves. As long as they stay away from covering Andrew Lloyd Weber or doing a version of “My Heart Will Go On Forever,” I’ll be remain a huge fan. A Moment’s Peace deserves a place on the CD shelf of any acoustic music lover, no matter how many previous Tingstad and Rumbel recordings already sit there. The CD earns my highest recommendation with almost laughable ease. |
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Rating: Excellent  |
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- reviewed by Bill Binkelman on 3/5/2006 |
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