The Dutch music magazine, Heaven, reviews Symphony in 16 Bars

Marc Cohn's fourth...

Singer-songwriter White's previous two albums were not released over here., but they were, jst as this release, the result of his late calling. The New Yorker previously wrote mainly music for commercials and played on sessions for amongst others Shawn Colvin and Peter Wolf, whose Fool's Pararde and Sleepless he also produced.
Musical friends from the circle around Paule Cole, Joe Henry, Norah Jones and Bob Dylan lent their services, amongst whom drummer Shawn Pelton and Larry Campbell. He plays guitar here. Keyboard and guitar player White writes, just like the in song two second voice singing fellow-New Yorker Marc Cohn, sometimes swinging rootsy songs with a flowing melody, here and there complemented by a sober horn section. His attractive chord segments sometimes remind strongly of those of Cohn. He also shares his themes about modern city life and love. White at first listen uses a laconic tone, that appears to relativize his feelings. Close listening however reveals a personal, layered and nuanced melancholy. White is clearly better in sadness, regret and longing than in passing up on it. ALbumopenener Until You Learn is thematic in this sense: Until you learn to give your heart away / A song is just some pretty words / A melody you play.
Whoever has been waiting for Cohn's fourth for years, finds comfort with White.

Ruud Heijer.

Back to Reviews