EARTH PARTNERS

Reprinted with permission from Vol. 7 No. 50 September 9 - 15, 2004 issue of ECHO

VARIOUS
Keepers of the Sacred Fire
(Independent)

A GROUP OF concerned artists and musicians from the city of Hamilton have released this eclectic collection in order to raise awareness of the municipal government's bid to pave over the beautiful Red Hill Valley with a new expressway. Project leaders Dave King and Gord Pullar gathered the artists at King's coverted cattle barn recording studio last February, and the result is a heartfelt and tender outpouring of support for the preservation of an important sacred greenspace.

Contributors include writer April A. Severin, whose emotional spoken-word piece entitled "Voice of the Valley" opens the CD; environmentalist and singersongwriter Ian Thomas, backed up by some of Hamilton's well seasoned musical talent on the rollicky "Rise Above It"; Rob LaMothe and company playing a lovely yet disquieting ode entitled "Welcome to the 21st Century"; East-Moutain boy Tom Wilson and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings who contribute the intensely appopriate "Lean on Your Peers"; and a collection of First Nations drummers and singers who remind people of all nations that "we may dance a different step, but we all dance to the same beat." All told, it's a wonderful soundtrack for purposeful community involvement. [ML]

Posted September 22, 2004