It has been almost five years since Kim Richey released a new album. Clocking in at 33 minutes, Chinese Boxes is worth the wait. The short length of the album is appropriate for the conceptual simplicity of the lyrics. The imagery Richey uses in her lyrics allow her to provide the listener a conceptual framework that doesn’t require much narrative. On the title cut of the album she uses “Chinese Boxes” (empty boxes inside of bigger empty boxes) to signify a relationship with someone that seems to be enduring but is really not substantial. This type of imagery is used over and over again on the album often to poignantly describe relationships that aren’t what they appear to be.
This lyrical minimalism doesn’t apply to the instrumentation which is beautiful, textured and draws the listener to the word pictures she is framing. Richey wrote or co-wrote all the songs on the album, including “Drift” which she penned with Mindy Smith. The earlier songs on the album are slower in tempo setting the atmosphere, while the second half of the album picks up the tempo a bit. No matter the tempo of the song the results are the same. The album will be released today by Vanguard. Don’t miss it!
See the link be low to sample 2 songs off of the album.
About the author: Chip and his family live in Birmingham, AL. Roll Tide!