David Morris of Red River Dialect has always been able to find the spiritual in ordinary objects. It’s a reflection, perhaps, of his training as a Buddhist monk — a habit of contemplation and co-existence with all the inhabitants of the world around him. On Basic Country Mustard, his most successful songs focus not on nature’s myriad wonders, but on what makes us human.
Consider, for instance, the title track, an extended meditation on the most plebian of condiments. Against a jangling guitar, a bouncy drum beat, and scattered piano chords, Morris observes the simplicity — just two ingredients: seeds and liquid — and the infinite variations of mustard. “The Ancient Chinese back in 1000 B.C./ The Romans and Japanese/ They all liked…

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us

« »