• What Light is All About, 2003 by Heather Beckmyer for CelticChristianTunes.com
• What Light is All About, 2003 by Josh Hurst of The Phantom Tollbooth
• The Rains, 1999

What Light is All About, 2003

My first impression of What Light is All About by Alathea is of their fresh sweet vocals. They are as easy to listen to as a shimmering stream in a quiet forest. Indeed, much of the inspiration for the songs is gleaned from nature.

This is a country-pop-folk sound, with a salt-and-pepper sprinkling of bluegrass and Appalachian influences. There is an interesting mix of instrumentation including acoustic and electric guitar, upright and fretless bass, banjo, dobro, lap steel, fiddle, strings, cello, bowed psaltery, drums and percussion, B3, piano, accordion, marimba, keyboards, flute, recorders, and harmonica. The last cut, "Always" is the least "pop" in style. Acoustic guitar and mandolin compliment a tune with celtic overtones.

The catchy tunes are set to thoughtful lyrics. Paradoxical poetic lyrics reflecting the influence of Annie Dillard and Kathleen Norris (who are quoted in the liner notes) such as Indian Creek's The silence here is so loud I can hear Him speak / and my soul is lost in getting found challenge the listener to introspection. In contrast, tunes such as "Smiled on Me" contain lighter lyrics celebrating the joy of living. Through it all runs a theme of worship for the Creator, and of the grace available to humble seekers. From "Always":

May joy come in the morning
May the sparrow sing of it all day
May peace float down like an autumn leaf
And gather in piles for children to play
May forgiveness be an open field
May this be the land that I trod
May my soul be ever restless till I find my rest in God.

Extensive liner notes with whimsical photographs of Cristi Johnson, Carrie Theobald and Mandee Radford in playful and contemplative poses, and a personal message revealing their taste in rental videos provides a homey touch, making us feel as if we could just drop over and visit.

What Light is All About is an accessible polished production, crafted with care, exhibiting skillful musicianship from all performers.

This CD makes for good family listening, appealing to children and adults. Especially for preteen and teenage girls who are looking for role models, these young women present a healthy image of what it means to be a believer in a complex world.

--Heather Beckmyer for CelticChristianTunes.com

What Light is All About, 2003

Alathea, the latest group signed to critically-acclaimed label Rocketown Records, differs from their labelmates in a couple of ways. One, they actually fill a gap in the contemporary Christian music industry; we had heard singer/songwriter pop-rock before Shaun Groves entered the scene, and the sultry piano-based sounds of Ginny Owens were nothing new at the time, but Alathea is a trio aimed to fulfill a void in CCM, offering a pop/bluegrass hybrid that is being hyped as something similar to the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, something mainstream CCM has never really had. And two, also unlike their Rocketown chums, Alathea's debut disc is surprisingly lacking in artistic merit, making it the label's biggest misstep since Ginny Owens' disappointing Something More.

Perhaps some of the disappointment can be attributed to too much propaganda from Rocketown. Alathea are being hyped as a rootsy, homespun Appalachian folk act, yet their sound is frustratingly steeped in pop and adult contemporary influences. Ads compare Alathea's album, What Light is All About, to the best-selling O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, but this record is far too polished and sleek to make a fitting counterpart to that soulful T-Bone Burnett-produced disc.

Still, all is not lost. The three women of Alathea offer solid songwriting for their first major-label project, and the Appalachian instrumentation, while far too scarce, is just plentiful enough to satisfy those who are just dipping their toe into bluegrass.

"Faithful One" is a good representation of their sound. A gentle but upbeat pop ditty, the song immerses a strong melody in just enough banjos, dobros, and organs to make it interesting, and the lyric is a simple but intelligent expression of faith.

Elsewhere, "O Love" is a pleasing (albeit somewhat flat-sounding) acoustic guitar romp, highlighted by a screeching fiddle, which serves as one of the album's more memorable moments.

The remainder of the record is fine, but not quite what it's hyped to be. Alathea's sound is supposed to be bluegrass with a hint of pop; instead, it's bland pop, given just enough bluegrass flavor to be worthwhile. "I Will Walk" fails as an entry into the bluegrass genre, but it succeeds as mellow, back-porch folk, largely because of the trio's wide-eyed innocence and delicate vocal delivery. "Emmanuel," meanwhile, would make a terrific Christmas tune, but its adult contemporary leanings make it seem a bit boring for what is supposed to be a bluegrass recording.

When What Light is All About fades out after the eleventh cut, the listener will likely have a smile on his face and a tune stuck in his head, but, if he was expecting the rootsy bluegrass twang that the album is hyped to be, then he might also feel like he just had his money stolen by a swindling con man. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

--Josh Hurst of The Phantom Tollbooth, republished with permission.

Musically, The Rains could be described as folk-pop with country, Celtic, old-time, and bluegrass underpinnings. Though there are definitely world influences (at least three tracks have a distinctly Celtic flavor), overall, The Rains is American in sound. Alathea comes to us from a small town in the Unaka Mountains of northeastern Tenessee, and somehow, that comes out in this album's down-to-earth sound.

Earthy though it may be, this is one of the most professionally produced indipendent projects I've seen. It sounds and looks great, and A BUNCH of other noteworthy artists contribute their talents, including Jerry McPherson, Phil Madeira, Michael Aukofer (who also produced), and Jimmy Abegg behind the camera. (As of this writing, Abegg is Rocketown Records image czar and art director.)

As a product, The Rains is a good value. In addition to the music itself, the art is attractive, and it contains copious liner notes. The booklet insert contains the usual--lyrics, credits, etc.--but Alathea has gone the extra mile of adding a separate five-panel insert entitled "In Reflection..." which provides insights into the inspiration behind each song.

This isnt your typical 3-piece band. Instruments found on the CD include: various drums & percussion, hammered dulcimer, accordion, piano, wurlitzer, B-3, harmonica, cello, mandocello, upright bass, flute, tin whistle, uillean pipes, clarinet, banjo, and 6 different members of the guitar family. Though the entire work has a cohesive sound, it is not repetitive. The great variety of sounds produced by this menagerie of instruments keeps each track fresh with an identity all its own.

Lyrically, The Rains is heartfelt and inspiring. "Leading Me Home" speaks of security in Christ:

You are bigger than these four walls that bind my soul to this place.
You stretched the ceiling of the stars for me, so why do I feel this way?

Cause I'm Yours and now I'm safe,
But when my heart may roam,
You're leading me home.

I am feeling full of life today -- You're in the air as I laugh.
I have the freedom to crack a smile as I turn from the doors of my past.

From this, to the praises of "Doxology":

O the depths of Your riches
It's the wisdom of all man
Who has ever given to God?
I drop my penny in His hand.

With open empty palms, I offer this. . .

To Him be the glory,
For from Him and in Him are all things
The glory is Yours.

Without quoting every line on the disc, suffice it to say that it is filled with relevant and compelling lyrics, with topics ranging from abandonment and doubt to romance, to forgiveness and liberation. It is definitely worth a listen.