When I first heard Mike and Olivia Haberman play, I was immediately struck by how superb their songwriting abilities were. These songs are warm, friendly, and present subjects and people in such an intimate light you almost immediately feel that you know these people personally. This is songwriting at its best.

This album is simply but elegantly produced, with instrumentation perfectly balanced to the subjects and the fantastic songwriting. Mike and Olivia take turns on acoustic guitar, Olivia soars on the penny whistle, and Mike simply rocks on the mandolin. Mandolin/fiddle legend Richard Kriehn and musician/producer Paul Ely Smith lend their fantastic talents as well to the songs, adding fills and solos just where they fit best.

Olivia's rich alto is such a pleasure to listen to, throbbing with emotion and a deliberate presentation of the subjects that belies her years. Mike's solid tenor reminds me a little bit of John Denver, and equally presents his songs in a wonderful way.

I honestly could go on and on about every song on this album, but I'll limit myself to two of each songwriter's best. For Mike's, I have to pick "Ghosts of Harlan Grange," an old farmer mourns the loss of both an old friend and the old days; and "Dearest Sister," inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's letters to his sister and brother.

It's so hard to pick my two favorites of Olivia's, but the two that I keep coming back to are "Come Close," one of the most perfectly written love songs I've ever heard; and "Gloria," which is an intensely intimate, heartbreaking celebration of the song's namesake... and again, I find myself feeling as if I know them personally.

With subjects from celtic legends to wistful remembrance of days past, love lost to love found and everything in between, I am sure you'll find that this is an album you'll listen to again and again... and again. I certainly do.
                            Read more...