Reviewed by Corin Pilling

"What a beautiful piece of heartache this has all turned out to be..", is the opening line of Over The Rhine's first post- IRS release, a poignant summary of their career to date and a reminder of the wonderful tensions celebrated in their music. Those who have followed the band's progress thus far may be intrigued by the development of the sound on 'Good Dog'- whilst previous releases tended to be dominated by Ric Hordinski's guitar work, this collection of songs are underpinned by cello, piano, six and twelve string, and even mellotron. As a result, the sound has a more organic feel and the songs are given the space to breathe freely. The understated melodies accent the lyrical themes; the anger of "Eve" has been replaced by a thread of hope and though still often obtuse we find greater clarity on the issues of grace and salvation. Karin sings "There's nothing harder than learning how to receive" and everyone agrees. A wonderful tribute to Jack Kerouac is nestling in too, Linford's electric piano trawling lazily beneath it. The essence of Over The Rhine will always lie in their ability to meditate on both the depth of beauty and the profound sadness of life. Their music combines lament and celebration, often explored within the same song: "Happy To Be So" demonstrates this by marrying a declaration of faith with a resonant, mournful tune. All debates on the value of art cease in the light of something this beautiful. Put simply, this music glorifies God. If you have any love of life or poetry then I advise you to track down this album. When you get home, light some candles. Better still, plan to get married and hire Over The Rhine as the soundtrack to your life.

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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