See You Tomorrow

Enjoying a bit of a renaissance, Pennsylvanian chamber folk trio the Innocence Mission return with See You Tomorrow, their ethereal second outing for Britains Bella Union label. Theres a remarkable consistency to the work of Karen Peris and her husband Don, who, along with longtime bassist Mike Bitts, have more or less revisited the same very specific sonic world over and over since the late 90s. A balance of happy/sad intimacy and tranquil daydreaming marks their now-familiar bailiwick where lightly picked acoustic guitars, double bass, and distant strings, melodica, piano, and other unshowy ornamentations build a cozy gossamer glow around Karens fragile vocals. From its general subject matter (compassion, family, spirituality, love) to its hushed delicacy, See You Tomorrow does little to deviate from this pattern, though its hard to find too much fault in that. The groups signature sound is a home-built concept, gently refined over their three decades together, and their steady cultivation of it is their gift to the world. As far as Innocence Mission albums go, See You Tomorrow offers a bit more experimentation than some of their recent releases. Recorded at the Perises home with Karen playing the bulk of the parts, theres a certain freedom to the song structures and overall feel, with tempos shifting lazily across a landscape populated with occasional instrumental bouquets that flash her craft as an arranger. A mostly even mix of piano- and guitar-led songs, highlights include On Your Side and St. Francis and the Future, the latter of which shines with a particularly unique radiance and subtle complexity. Later on in the album is the excellent Mary Margaret in Mid-Air a rare cut that features Don Peris on lead vocals amid the pleasant rattle of old film projector sound effects. Its these little details and the quality of the writing that help push the boundaries of what otherwise sounds like a quintessential Innocence Mission album. ~ Timothy Monger