SPHYR
A Poem for M (Fire Records)
Reviewed by Holly Day

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This is by far the best spoken word CD I've heard from a modern poet for a very long time, and I have heard a lot of spoken word lately. Too much, in fact, so the fact that I like this so much is even more impressive to me. Derek Stephens has both the right timbre to his voice to deliver these punchy, biting lines, as well as a wonderful set of timing in which to deliver them. I think the reason this works so well, though, is that the backing instrumentation on this disc is really, really beautiful, with piano, button accordion, flute, light percussion, all blending in with Stephens' subtle but powerful delivery. Instead of being just another free jazz recording with screaming vocals slapped on top of it, this is more like a classical-sounding, or Renaissance music-sounding, kind of disc where the words spoken in it blend in perfectly with the music.

© 2004 - Holly Day