It's been a long wait since 1991's Umbrella, but The Innocence Mission has finally returned with their third album, Glow. Like their first two albums, Glow is a quiet collection of hauntingly beautiful songs. Fans who feared the demise of this precious band will be glad to note that Karen Peris and the rest of the band have simply been taking their time until the right songs developed for a new album. And even though the past four years have been hard on their fans, Glow is certainly worth the wait.
The Innocence Mission shares a musical bed with 10,000 Maniacs, The Cowboy Junkies, Shelleyan Orphan, and The Katydids. Like their peers, the band sets itself apart with personal lyrics, engrossing vocals, and music that is both subdued and passionate. Karen Peris' vocals are truly unique. They have a soft, atmospheric quality that gently embraces as if you were resting on a cloud. Sonically, Peris adds her trademark keyboards and some acoustic guitar to the chiming guitar of her husband, Don Peris, and the fluid bass and percussion of Mike Bitts and Steve Brown. The sonic mix they produce softly lifts and swirls in gentle musical eddies.
And while the music alone is moving and vibrant, the lyrics take you a step further. Karen Peris' songs unfold themselves like dusty, faded letters recovered from an attic box. They are swirling, blurred snapshots of years past. A picture may tell a thousand words, but each short lyric offers much more than a simple picture could ever contain. Like the best of poets, Peris' verses are an economy of words which reveal a wealth of history and emotions. It is this depth which catapults The Innocence Mission beyond their peers.
The only unfortunate twist to The Innocence Mission's music is that it isn't very radio ready, and similar bands like 10,000 Maniacs have had to wait many years to get any airplay. Still, that doesn't change the quality of Glow. It is a quiet, simple daydream of melodies which fall around you like a warm blanket on a cold night. One listen to Peris' vocals and you'll fall in love with The Innocence Mission. So, don't worry if you haven't heard about the band yet, go and give The Innocence Mission a try. It will be worth it.
