Go With the Flow is the eighth album from Perpetual Motion, an award-winning duo featuring Josie Quick on electric and acoustic violins and viola, and Tom Carleno on guitars. All but two of the twelve tracks on the album are original compositions that reflect on positivity and some of the good and meaningful things in life. Josie and Tom have been collaborating since the late 1980’s and have been married since 1992. Based in Denver, CO, the artists have also recorded solo and collaborated with a variety of other artists. They were scheduled to play in my house concert series in 2020 which had to be cancelled due to Covid, and I still feel bad that I haven’t had a chance to meet them and see them play live! The music on the album is varied in musical styles, once again demonstrating the duo’s versatility and artistry.

Go With the Flow begins with “Water, Light, and Love,” a piece Josie composed in memory of Mary Jane Leyner who once said that to grow people you need water, light and love. (The quote is much longer, but this explains the title.) David Short also plays cello on this track, adding to the gently-flowing quality of the music - a beautiful start! The title track includes Christian Teele on percussion, and the liner notes advise to “Listen to music, travel the world, enjoy life, and go with the flow.” Sounds like great advice to me! The piece has an easy-going, almost playful mood that is inviting and welcoming. “Rum Point” was inspired by relaxing afternoons in Grand Cayman sharing “the best rum cocktails around” and letting the island set the pace. Very peaceful, the violin and guitar as well as some light percussion paint a beautiful picture of the experience (I want to go!!!). The duo created a great arrangement of the Lennon/McCartney classic, “Norwegian Wood,” adding their own original touches while staying true to the original. Josie composed “It’s Amazing,” a playful, bluesy duet that is pure fun and gives both artists a turn to take the lead - definitely a favorite! Tom penned the two versions of “Josie’s Blues” that appear on the album. He explains in the liner notes that early in their collaboration, Josie asked him to write a blues tune even though he was going in other musical directions. The result is both fun and soulful. The piece runs at almost seven minutes, so the album closes with a bonus track that is a shortened “radio edit” of the piece. Josie also composed, “Broken Elbow Cha-Cha,” which recalls time spent immersed in Brazilian choro music while healing from a broken elbow. Christian Teele (percussion) and Blake Eberhard (bass) also appear on this one - a lively bit of musical sunshine! “From the Beginning” is a duet arrangement of the prog rock song by Greg Lake (King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer). Well done! “Chimichangaranga” is definitely an original title! Inspired by Cuban charanga music, Josie recalls that when she was composing it, Tom kept calling it “the chimichanga song.” Bright and lively, the bass and percussion parts are all played on the electric violin - fascinating!

Go With the Flow is available on Bandcamp. More links will be added as they become available. Very highly recommended!