With its intimate, late-night vibe and assured sense of craft, Williams delivers his material in a way thatâs refreshingly devoid of the overkill characteristics of many up-and-comers -Performing Songwriter Magazine

10 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Folk Pop, SPIRITUAL: Contemporary Christian

Show all album songs: The Silence In Between Songs


Details:
Christopher Williamsâ third solo album The Silence In Between provides a prime example of why this former preschool teacher should continue making music for a living. The discâs 10 tracks cover a range of emotions, from devotion to a child (âDaughterâs Eyesâ), to loneliness (âEvery Time I Say Goodbyeâ), to regret (âEver Afterâ). Williamsâ introspective lyrics provide a door through which the listener can walk with him. Both musically and lyrically, The Silence in Between is a strong album, full and rich with detail. Williams achieved distinctive effects by bringing Hammond organ, viola, and mandolin into the mix. Contributions from fellow singer/songwriters David Wilcox, Ellis Paul, and Willy Porter add depth and texture to Williamsâ already fine album. Williamsâ vocals, dramatic in their subtlety, have a breathy quality which make his lyrics, and his characters, all the more believable. - Dirty Linen Magazine

Anthems of self-discovery are, in large part, a singer/songwriterâs stock-in-trade. After looking inward and putting words to paper, matching it to a melody, then (usually) wringing musical notes out of a guitar, the time arrives to show people what youâve learned. It helps to have a well-honed set of skills to get the message across and itâs hard to imagine anyone more well-prepared than Christopher Williams. With a sweet, burr-edged singing voice and a seemingly innate melodic sense, his songs already have a leg up on listenability. In addition, heâs contributed as a percussionist with Ellis Paul, and The Folk Monty/The Bixbys (here as a full member/singer/songwriter), so his upbeat songs percolate with an effervescent energy.

And, oh yes, the writing. On track two, âEach Otherâs Blessing,â one of the better lines in a declaration of romantic love Iâve heard recently occurs up front. âI am the bread, you are the wine / We were meant to be broken...â The lines that follow âto share our lives like fruit from the vine / with these words that weâve spoken,â seem a bit more commonplace, but the entire effort really flies on the strength of a soaring melody. Track three, âBreatheâ is reminiscent, especially in the chorus, of some of James Taylorâs better work, but I find it more satisfying than anything Iâve heard from James lately. As a statement of aloneness and the self-questioning it provokes, the song is sheer perfection. It begins, âWrapped in the loneliness of pretending to be strong / words comfort as much as a winterâs day is long...â

Christopher sees that everything he thought he knew has âsuddenly fallen out of view.â The slow, deliberate meter of the verse leads us up to the words: âI heard a voice say,â right into the steady heartbeat of a riveting chorus: âWalk to the water rest on the shore / let me love spill into yours / walk on the water fall on your knees / quench your restless soul by the water...and breathe.â This song boasts contributions from Willy Porter on acoustic guitar and from David Wilcox on background vocals. On other tracks contributing ânameâ musicians include: Ellis Paul (âEmpty My Handsâ) and David Hidalgo (of Los Lobos -- âEvery Time I Say Goodbyeâ) while Jerry Marotta plays drums and Michael Manring plays fretless bass throughout.

One of the more ambitious statements in the arena of romance occurs in the song, âEver After.â In a response to an old flame who is getting married to another, and has asked him to attend her wedding, Chris wonders: âAm I wrong to love you / Am I wrong to think you felt the same / Am I wrong to think you are the one / Not just the one who would get away.â In a recent appearance in Manhattan, Chris stated that this coming August, he would attend the wedding spoken of in the song! Has she heard the song?...Will he sing it there? Stay tuned!

This CD is a finely crafted piece of work. David Miner, the producer, also contributed electric and upright bass himself and added viola, cello and mandolin by others to marvelous effect throughout the album. - Acoustic LIVE Magazine