Seven psalms
Paul Simon (Composer, Singer, Instrumentalist), Jamey Haddad (Instrumentalist), Edie Brickell (Singer), Voces8 (Musical group) (Singer)
Recorded entirely on acoustic instruments, and performed by Simon, this album showcases Simon's craft at its finest and most captivating, simply with his voice and guitar. Intended to be listened to as one continuous piece, the 33-minute, seven-movement composition transcends the concept of the "album". A stunning, intricately layered work, it's a record which establishes an engaging and meditative, hymnal soundscape, with Simon's lyrics providing the gravitational center for constellations of sound woven from guitar strings and other acoustic instrumentation, including choral elements. True to the origin of psalms as hymns meant to be sung rather than spoken. This album reaches back to the very genesis of folk music King David's Psalms. The result is a quietly moving musical experience which uncovers a wealth of subtle details with every repeated listen. A step apart from anything Paul Simon has released before
Music CD, English, 2023
Owl Records/Sony Music Entertainment, [New York], 2023
Folk music
1 audio disc (33 min., 2 sec.) ; CD, stereo : 4 3/4 in.
1376390000
Words and music by Paul Simon
Compact disc
Song lyrics printed on container insert
Recorded, Arlyn Studios ; Power Station Studios ; Studios at Fischer ; The Village Recorder ; The Reservoir ; The VOCES8 Center, London.
Paul Simon, vocals, guitars: acoustic guitar, hi-strung electric, Dobro and baritone; percussion: bells, gongs, frame drum, talking drum, gamelan, gopichand, Cloud-Chamber Bowls and bass harmonica; keyboards, etc: Glockenspiel, Chromelodeon and harmonium ; Jamey Haddad, Hadphoon, hadjira, gran cassa bass drum and Almglocken (Swiss tuned bells) ; Edie Brickell, duets on "The sacred harp" and "Wait" ; Voces8 ; with additional musicians.
Produced by Paul Simon and Kyle Crusham.