Reviewed by Brian A McAdie

The Promise Keepers show that the contemporary American male is feeling in need of repentance and Brooks Williams appears to be no exception. 'Seven Sisters' is a follow up to the critically acclaimed 1995 album 'Knife Edge' and this much travelled New England resident continues to develop his gritty acoustic guitar style, this time with a smaller group of musicians whose CVs include work with Bruce Cockburn. Musically, the album cannot be faulted; in addition to a soulful voice Brooks has mastered a vast variety of folk and blues guitar styles and his virtuosity is unquestioned. Lyrically, the songs have an introspection that may have come from his many enforced exiles- his sin is consumerism, his solution is immersion in nature. His use of metaphor is not subtle; the title track's tourist brochure description of springtime renewal in the Seven Sisters mountain range is followed by the line that ".if (the trees) come back, maybe there's hope for this man." His spiritual inspiration is often drawn from creation; where the first snowfall on "Winter Moon" leads to ".pearls of wisdom, gems of love and truth sublime, the silence speaks of love divine." Overall, the 11 songs unashamedly confine themselves to the limits of his experience- Brooks is the centre of his universe. A pot pouri, with a pleasing but ultimately unsubstantial fragrance.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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