Harper shines a 'light'

Ben Harper is one of those beautiful 20th century musicians who throughout his career has been walking hand-in-hand with his influences -- it's always a battle to find the right proportions of Kravitz, Dylan, Motown or anyone else in the rhythms. Creating melodies of rock, soul, reggae and funk in safe but ultimately enjoyable concoctions, his silky voice caresses listeners with lyrics that simply breathe love into the air. (Think the radio track, "When She Believes.")\nHowever, though Harper isn't particularly known for "pushing the envelope" per se, his new record, There Will Be a Light, does take a firm stance on genre, something that perhaps Harper's earlier records cannot claim. Recorded in two separate sessions in early 2004 with the collaboration of the seven-man vocal wonder The Blind Boys of Alabama (who share title space with Harper on the record), Harper and company have created something mystical.\nBeginning with the lonely drums and cooly-fingered evangelical organ, the opening lyrics "Lord I Work to Serve You" to the track "Take my Hand" sets the stage for an album of Harper-style, American spirituals that might leave the average Harper listener wondering where the "breakup song" is in the track list. Unfortunately for that poor soul, the only songs about lost love are those about the "Wicked Man" and his fall from the loving grace of God.\nBut don't get this record confused with the vacant array of work by Christian pop artists, who by virtue of simply throwing in a few "Jesus Saves" or thinly-veiled religious metaphors believe they have create "Godly" recordings, Harper's album is truly "spiritual." It touches upon an almost historic sanctity -- embodied by the cautionary storytelling and misty steel guitar on "Well Well Well" -- that has its roots in a time when belief actually meant something. \nThough certainly not everyone can find his or her own personal history embedded in lyrics to tracks such as "Pictures of Jesus," the ghosts of faith found in everyone's hearts, regardless of cultural labels, radiate through the profound, weeping harmonies of The Blind Boys of Alabama and Harper's sensitive-guy musicality.\nIt's not an album to tear down the walls of convention, and it might not blow the audience away with wonder, but it certainly plays smoothly from start to finish, never boring and certainly suitable for a drive out into the country, or perhaps even somewhere on a Sunday morning.