CD REVIEW: 9 Years by Noon

CD REVIEW: 9 Years
Noon

Noon is Erin Kapferer and her piano. A local artist, she presents us with 9 Years, her debut album featuring nine songs of struggle, heartbreak, and strength. Kapferer relays that it took her nine years to create the album – hence its name. The songs are extremely personal and hold nothing back from her feelings and thoughts.

It’s not music you sing along with or that gets stuck in your head – it’s music to absorb in a tranquil environment. It stands out in that there are no distinguished choruses or refrains. It’s as if she’s reading from her diary, set to music with piano accents. There is little variation in the tone of each song – as she asks in “Blinded by It,” “How many sad songs will I write?” Nothing on the album reverberates with jubilee; these songs are about overcoming heartache and betrayal… fear and trust.

The album itself is very simple – the vocals, lyrics and piano combine to create one sound. There are few times when the listener’s focus would shift to just piano or vocals – it’s a package deal. The music gives off a very feminine vibe, with Kapferer’s lyrics struggling between the stereotype of women as weak and her efforts towards independence from past relationships (be they romantic or family).

To make a comparison, stylistically her sound is similar to the up-and-coming artist Laura Jansen… maybe a throwback to a stripped-down Jewel. The album was completed in December of 2009, but the formal release is still pending.

You can take in the music of Noon on Sat 4/30 @ Bela Dubby in Lakewood. She’ll be playing alongside Leah Lou and How to Breathe Underwater. Find her music at http://MySpace.com/theyretellingme.

In a band/know a band/see a band? Email Laurie at ClevelandSoundsATgmail.com!

Laurie Wanninger is a Cleveland convert, having lived in Pittsburgh for 20 years. After attending John Carroll University, she was sold on the city and now lives, works and breathes Cleveland. Spare time is spent DJing Music for Your Laundry List at WJCU 88.7, bicycling, going to local concerts and dreaming of microbrews and National Parks.

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