Dirty Linen

Oct/Nov 1995(#60)

Chris & Lynn Rosser - Face The East

If today were the mid 70's, this album, with its spiritually-minded brand of country-tinged folk-rock, would surely have come out on the Kama Sutra label. Chris and Lynn Rosser are a husband and wife duo from Asheville, North Carolina, who combine rich guitar textures with superb harmonies and sometimes Middle Eastern-influenced instrumentation. Both Rossers sing lead vocals in turn, with Chris' voice given to the sweet, expressive styles of James Taylor or Dan Fogelberg and Lynn's voice set in the more contemporary styles of Shawn Colvin or Nanci Griffith. The Rossers are refreshingly original in their approach and this may have a lot to do with the spiritual nature of their music. Though song titles such as "O Son of Earth," "Higher Up," Cherokee Ridge," and "Rest Your Weary Wings" might sound like they should be on the soundtrack to Godspell 2, they are in fact lovely homages to the experience of being alive and human. Considering the present state of folk, which is top-heavy with dreary, angst-ridden, confessional songs of failed relationships, dying planets and enough cynicism to make even Frank Zappa gag, it is a joy to have such fine musicians adding a little positive energy back into the music scene.