Lis Addison’s Crown in the Sky is a celebration of the Sacred Feminine and an exploration of the feminine side of nature. All ten of the tracks on the album feature Addison’s silky vocals accompanied by light electronic instrumentation, layered voices, and infectious rhythms. The music came to Addison decades ago as an accompaniment to a performance piece she wrote called “The Daughters of Urth,” a tale about a matriarchy that lives in harmony with nature. She put the project away until the time was right, and recently decided to release the songs without the story since the messages are so pertinent to our lives today. After reworking the music, Addison played most of the backing instruments herself, but Dean Foster, Kit Walker, and Christopher Krotky also lend their talents to several tracks. A percentage of the CD sales goes to global tree planting projects and organizations that empower women and girls.

Crown in the Sky begins with “Voice of the Tree,” a gently rocking piece with simple accompaniment and a catchy rhythm that gives it a light jazz feeling - a great start and one of my favorites. “Look Into Your Eyes” has a softly swaying motion and lyrics that ask for mutual understanding and acceptance. “Bring Her Light” includes vocals by Kamba women and children that Addison recorded on a recent visit to Kenya where she says they sang, danced, and planted trees together. One of the most powerful and beautiful songs on the album, this one could become a classic. “Hearts and Bones” is a rhythmic chant backed with electronic instrumentation and bass. The title song has the sweet quality of a folk song or a song for children. It tells about caring for and nurturing a young tree, and the sound of the bodran in the background adds even more charm to the tender voices. The melody for “Carry Me” is smooth and flowing, but the back-up has a lively, dancelike style that provides a fascinating contrast. “How Deep” is more of a human-to-human love song with references to Mother Urth, gratitude, and joy. “Mother Gaia” ends the set with a lovely tribute to the goddess or personification of Earth (from the ancient Greeks). Katie Foster provides background vocals on this one, and her voice blends wonderfully with Addison’s. Slowly flowing with a strong pulse, it brings the album to a haunting close.

Crown in the Sky carries a powerful message in a most enjoyable musical format. It is available from Amazon, iTunes, and CD Baby. Check it out!