The album Message in Braille
Mike Riddick and Deb Hedges’ new album, Message in Braille, is a testament to the enduring beauty of well-crafted folk music. The album’s brilliance lies not in any progressive musical experimentation, but in its masterful execution, its great writing and composing, and the deeply moving core of its songs. The poignant and powerful writing and compositing of Hedges, a songwriter from Ruidoso, New Mexico (United States) is undeniable, often topping charts on platforms like ReverbNation. It is also worth noting the striking album cover, which appears to be a personal touch from Hedges herself, as a “DH” signature can be seen upon it.
The collaboration between Mike Riddick and Deb Hedges
The album is a beautiful collaboration missing only the crowning harmonies. Both Riddick and Hedges bring their own vocal talents to the fore. While Riddick possesses a voice that is both lovely and embracing, a perfect complement to Hedges’ lyrical depth, Hedges herself is an accomplished singer, beside being a multi-instrumentalist, composer and lyricist. The real magic of Message in Braille is in the synergy between their voices and Hedges’ songwriting. The lyrics are incredibly poignant, weaving narratives that are both personal and universal. Hedges’ sensitivity and compositional skill saturate every track, creating an emotional landscape that is both delicate and strong. This is an album that doesn’t just ask to be heard; it invites you to feel.
The magic in the Lyrics and Music
The real magic of Message in Braille is in the synergy between Riddick’s vocals and Hedges’ songwriting. The lyrics are incredibly poignant, weaving narratives that are both personal and universal. Hedges’ sensitivity and compositional skill saturate every track, creating an emotional landscape that is both delicate and strong. This is an album that doesn’t just ask to be heard; it invites you to feel.
Message in Braille: journey and Track list
The album’s tracklist is as follows:
- Message in Braille (03:52)
- Dancing with the Devil (04:24)
- A Mothers Love (04:22)
- Seventy_Years_Mstr1 (03:16)
- Deb_Hedges_Rock_On_Sweet_Angel (05:06)
- Deb_Hedges_Blind_Faith_Of_Morning (03:26)
- A Simple Prayer for Peace (04:02)
- Essence of Sound (05:32)
The album’s journey is an interesting one, starting with the more polished, contemporary arrangements on tracks like the title song, “Message in Braille,” and “Dancing with the Devil,” both beautifully sung by Riddick. It then shifts unexpectedly to sparser instrumentals, often led by a single guitar or piano, with Hedges taking the lead on vocals. This change is both surprising and effective, offering a raw, intimate glimpse into the soul of the music. While Riddick’s voice is undeniably beautiful, and his performances on tracks like “A Simple Prayer for Peace” and “Essence of Sound” are album highlights, Hedges’ own voice is a perfectly lovely addition to the tapestry, and one can’t help but wish for more of her vocal presence.
If we were to be a little constructive…
While the album features professional and beautiful instrumentation, a more conventional approach to the arrangements, along with percussion that can feel a bit too standard at times, occasionally obscures the truly exceptional nature of the material. There’s a sense that with a slightly more stripped-back and less conventional arrangement—something more than just a voice and a single instrument, perhaps with an occasional harmony and a sparse ensemble of two or three instruments—the profound depth of Hedges’ writing would be even more powerful. The essence of this album is so strong that it could shine through with minimal embellishment, truly setting it apart from its contemporaries.
Verdict
Message in Braille is an album worth listening to. It is an “gentle ear feast,” a truly professional and pleasing experience. It’s an album where the beauty of the vocals, the power of the lyrics, and the sincerity of the performances combine to create something special. Despite its conventional arrangements, the sheer quality of the songwriting and performance makes it a standout. Deb Hedges, with her powerful messaging, feels like a mix of Dianne Warren and Paul Simon, and Mike Riddick is her perfect Garfunkel, making this a collaboration that is both familiar and uniquely their own, and one that makes the absence of what could have been great harmonies all the more noticeable.
Deb Hedges on ReverbNation
Deb Hedges on Audiomack
Mike Riddick on Audiomack
Songwriting Accolade from the “collective works” honor from a VH1-affiliated songwriting contest