Eva Tree
Blue Skies CD

By Mary Golnick, Victory Review Acoustic Music Magazine

Upon first hearing this album I have become an instant fan of Eva Blum and Bill Dickerson. I am now excited about going to hear them live. I want to experience Eva’s gorgeous bluesy voice up close and personal, with the brilliant guitar work of Bill accompanying her effortlessly with those achingly beautiful chord changes of his. To get an idea of what I mean, just listen to ‘Hold My Eye’. Rumi, one of the most profound poet/writers in history, inspires the music here. The Eastern sensibility of the tune is highlighted with pentatonic tones, a prayer bell and a bit of didgeridoo, but the song is pure Blum/Dickerson; which means to say that we are treated to a well crafted melody backed up by sweet sounding chords– creating an emotional space for your mind to want to swim through again and again.

To say that their music has strong pop elements is not enough. This group can and should go national in my opinion. Eva sings her intelligent lyrics with great sensitivity and feeling, in a style not unlike that of K.D. Lang. There is strength to this music, which can be deeply personal and noble as well.

That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of diversity to this album. ‘Blue Skies’ has a bossa nova feel to it, ‘No More Fear’ is a wonderfully uplifting gospel tune, ‘The Fall’ has a fun wild-west-movie feel to it’s bass Upon first hearing this album I have become an instant fan of Eva Blum and Bill Dickerson. I am now excited about going to hear them live. I want to experience Eva’s gorgeous bluesy voice up close and personal, with the brilliant guitar work of Bill accompanying her effortlessly with those achingly beautiful chord changes of his. To get an idea of what I mean, just listen to ‘Hold My Eye’. Rumi, one of the most profound poet/writers in history, inspires the music here. The Eastern sensibility of the tune is highlighted with pentatonic tones, a prayer bell and a bit of didgeridoo, but the song is pure Blum/Dickerson; which means to say that we are treated to a well crafted melody backed up by sweet sounding chords– creating an emotional space for your mind to want to swim through again and again.

To say that their music has strong pop elements is not enough. This group can and should go national in my opinion. Eva sings her intelligent lyrics with great sensitivity and feeling, in a style not unlike that of K.D. Lang. There is strength to this music, which can be deeply personal and noble as well.

That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of diversity to this album. ‘Blue Skies’ has a bossa nova feel to it, ‘No More Fear’ is a wonderfully uplifting gospel tune, ‘The Fall’ has a fun wild-west-movie feel to it’s bass

—Mary Golnick, Victory Review Acoustic Music Magazine

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