After a hiatus of several years, Pam Mark Hall is returning to the Christian music market with Paler Shade. Produced and recorded by Dave Perkins, a release on the folk-oriented Storyville label might seem strange to those who remember her earlier work. In fact, there is no better word than folk to explain the songs on this project. There is an abundance of acoustic guitar playing, mostly by Pam, backed up by light rhythm instruments (Mike Radofsky, Michael Saleem), accordion and mandolin (Phil Parlapiano), bass (Glenn Worf), and includes a duet with Ashley Cleveland.
Hall became known as a songwriter before her solo career with "The Now And The Not Yet," recorded by Amy Grant. On this album, she again writes all her own songs and, in a way, she picks up where she left off. Many of the songs are upbeat, including "All Right Now" and "Family Tree," which is a song about her grandpa and grandma, in a true folk style. "Rock Me On the Water" evokes a Native American theme, both in its tune and lyrics; "Between the earth and sky I have found a place to howl like the wounded wind's daughter."
The duet with Ashley Cleveland on "Love's Possibility" is a great track, since Cleveland is perhaps the only other solo female artist that is doing anything close to this style of music right now. The songwriting is also similar to that of Greg and Rebecca Sparks, but with much less edge. Her songs are very rewarding to listen to, and provide an interesting bridge for those who want to explore folk music for the first time.
