Vocally, Lynn Davison recalls any number of alterna-folky singers: at various points on
Forward Motion, there are hints of
Natalie Merchant (without the distracting trill),
Sarah McLachlan, Sonya Hunter,
Barbara Manning,
Lisa Germano, and at times, even a little like
Stevie Nicks. Yet Davison doesn't particularly "sound" like anyone but herself, and her warm, clear voice is at the heart of this low-key but highly appealing album. Sharing the spotlight with Davison is Cole Coleman, a multi-instrumentalist who specializes in the laud, a small acoustic instrument that looks and sounds like a mandolin with a thyroid condition. The combination, on paper, sounds like it could all be unbearably twee -- and the cover of
Cat Stevens' "Moonshadow" comes dangerously close -- but Davison and Coleman are skilled songwriters and canny arrangers; there's little on
Forward Motion that the average AAA radio listener hasn't heard before, but
Davison & Coleman put the pieces together in a new and interesting way that makes
Forward Motion an often-captivating listen. ~ Stewart Mason