Michael Lewis
Dig for the Light
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
Here's a side to the guy who has screamed "Shut Off" for a couple years the soft side. Mike Lewis plays a nice acoustic guitar and sends out some smooth vocals a la Jyro of Fold Zan. Well thought lyrics that reach into the heart and mind of this songwriter. Several creative elements include the number of transgressions in "Counting On You" and the nursery rhyme references in "Sound Of My Heart." The title track is one example where Mike expresses his faith and the struggle to keep it: "I'm digging for the light buried in the truth / punching through my deep defense..." Mike seems to make a worshipful song of thanksgiving out of "Heart Song," which also offers itself as an apologetic to his material: "When I don't feel anything, you give me the grace to sing my heart song." Some of the songs have a rockin' tempo, like "The Greatest Thing," while many others take a dynamic swoon to soft lullaby land "Sound Of My Heart." "Heart Song" takes the dramatic swing between gentle and urgent between verse and chorus. This might be the closest Mike gets to the "Fold Zan meets Nirvana" sound. This could easily be a Puller song. The sonic quality throughout is of very fine quality, without sounding sterile. There's enough naked rawness in the guitar tones (both electric and acoustic) to keep the whole vibe real and earthy. Hopefully this new label will have its fine music heard. It would be a tragedy if music consumers had to dig for this disc, although I'd say it'd be worth the effort.