There is much more to Builder of the Houses’ music than meets the ear. With a mix of light-hearted bluegrass, Americana and folk elements, the listener may easily get lulled into a false sense of a devil-may-care attitude within the soul of the new six-song EP, “I Am a Tidal Wave.”

So not to be thrown off of the path like a blindly led sheep in a rosy-hued field, the listener must take hold of the carefully crafted lyrics in this honey-glazed music and sink deep into the overall experience of the subtle oxymoronic art.

Builder of the House is headed by Rob Cimitile, and he enlists a whole slew of musician friends to help him on this EP. With some musical comparisons to Jack Johnson and Elliott Smith, Cimitile has that whispery-thin, “maybe I care, maybe I don’t” style of singing that has become really popular in recent years.

The difference here is that Cimitile’s lyrics are so meaningful and deep that the contradiction of a carefree spirit within the music composition makes for an interesting ride.

Cimitile seems to have “gotten it,” at least to the point of exposing himself to the raw energy that is the unknown and then capturing it while wielding pen and paper. He takes on the power of an electrifying force and encapsulates it, then releases it to the world, transformed and ready to be interpreted by those true fans of one who can express such things.

In “Fire Dawn Breaking,” Cimitile explores many ideas of metaphysics and spirituality and breaks it down succinctly:

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“The ground sinking/ Gravity weakens/ We’ve waited for this moment/ Now here, yes here/ The experiment is done/ And now all souls can be one/ As we return to the sun.”

With its galloping bass and guitar lines and eerie-sounding voices, it’s actually one of the more rare songs on the EP that match up to the seriousness of the lyrical content.

Music fans who enjoy bluegrass and contemporary folk music will definitely take pleasure in “I Am a Tidal Wave.” Those who could go one way or the other with those musical styles can still enjoy the reach and stretch of this artist’s desire to connect with all of us in deep thought and sublime poem.

 

Kristin DiCara-McClellan is a local freelance writer. She can be reached at kjoydmac@yahoo.com

 


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