Enjoying a bit of a renaissance, Pennsylvanian chamber folk trio
the Innocence Mission return with
See You Tomorrow, their ethereal second outing for Britain's Bella Union label. There's 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
Karen's 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 it's hard to find too much fault in that. The group's 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, there's 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. It's 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