| This throwback's a keeper
by Jonathan Takiff Philadelphia,
Daily News Staff Writer
November 27, 1997
'Singer-songwriter Susan Piper really is a breed apart -
a charming, old-school, sensitive soul with a resonant voice
that could work on Broadway and a pure musical sense that
would please a Rodgers and Hart (Rodgers and Hammerstein).
Time and again this smart, tender creature tugs at the heartstrings
with her vivid. personalized vignettes -voicing the misty
memories of elder spirits in "If You Could See Me Then,"
vowing to do "Anything For Love"(scored with a gorgeous
string section) or vowing to go places (in spirited waltz
time) with here late actress auunt's bequest: "Aunt Miriam's
Suitcases".
The title track is a haunting take on life in the cold; harsh
citv: "I don't like the red and yellow plastic and the
billboards selling sex and beer. Bars on all the windows,
locks on all the doors and there's a tangible sense of fear.
But in the next breath she's finding religion in the strangest
places, "kinda freaky kinda grand ar in the gorgeouslv
scored "Bagels with Angels": "You can flv in
the face of fear, you can ride that second wave. You can laugh
in the face of God. God wants you to laugh.: God knows you
can be brave."
And she puts on a gallant, whimsical face, placing a per
sonal ad that dares to tell all in "It's Come to This."
Fans of Christine Lavin, Amanda McBroom, Susan Werner and
Judy Collins will find a kindred spirit here. Adding nimble
support to this warm com-
fort music are backing ' singers Richard, Shindell, Catie
Curtis, Lucy Kaplansky, Jennifer Kimball and The Rolling Tones.
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