"Bardo" is a Tibetan word for a time when one phase is over, and the next has not yet begun. In Buddhism, it usually refers to the time right after death and before rebirth, but there are bardos for all phases of life - any liminal point when the old is breaking down, the new has not yet been created, and the moment is ripe with possibility and choice is a bardo.
Most of these songs are about bardo spaces. It's not a concept album - just a record of what my tribe and I have been through lately - it's very lifey, deathy, changey, joyful and sorrowful at the same time. I hope these songs are useful to your heart - I'm very excited about them, and the sonic spaces I've been able to create for you.
People who have recently lost loved ones may especially relate to Look, the Deathbed Song, and Skipping Through Space and Time - these are all written about that specific experience.
All the songs are written by Mitzi, except Doggie Life, which was written by Stella the Dog.
Mitzi arranged, produced, recorded, mixed, sang, played guitars, bass, percussion, keyboard, shamisen, and found objects, except as follows:
Gary Mackender plays all drumset; Nick Augustine plays bass on Look, The Everchanging Song, and Giving Son House...; Sabra Faulk plays bass on Deathbed Song and sings on a couple more; Heather Hardy plays violin on Deathbed Song, The Crawdaddy-O Brass Band plays on Nice and Slow; and Don Simpson, Rebecca Horton, and Cantrell Maryott-Driver add beautiful vocals to a few pieces. The drum loops on Be Love are Junkyard Rhythms played by Joe Vitale Jr and Sr. Duncan Stitt at A Writer's Room recorded some of the tracks, and Namoli Brennet recorded and mixed Thin Air. Mastered by Jim Blackwood at Arizona Public Media. Dedicated to the spirit of Jonathan Holden.
The raw cardboard CD jacket is 100% recycled stock, hand-stamped and -stickered, featuring hand-lettered text and a replica of an original wood-block print by Mitzi. Local Tucson sources were used where possible. CDs duplicated by Groovehouse. The masking tape on the cover hides my middle/spirit name Dasheya, which violates CD Baby's guidelines that CD artwork must exactly match the "artist name," Mitzi Cowell. When yours arrives in the mail, simply peel off the masking tape to reveal my beautiful full name.
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