Eagle Times - Claremont NH, June 2007

Michael Witthaus

This is an ear-to-ear grin of a record, full of joy and the counting of blessings. ÒRaise your cup to another day,Ó sings bandleader Arbo on the title cut, an obvious nod to her recent battle with breast cancer. But it would be too easy to sum up the recordÕs buoyant mood as a simple paean to beating disease. ÒBig Old LifeÓ is about surviving and thriving.

ThereÕs nary a downbeat moment here. The hymn-like ÒJoy Comes BackÓ opens the disc and sets the tone. Equally spiritual is ÒRoses,Ó another Arbo original which describes the satisfaction of doing one thing well; itÕs also a showcase for the bandÕs gorgeous harmonizing and spare, attentive playing.

This is a well-balanced effort, with an even mix of originals and covers. Leonard CohenÕs ÒHeart With No CompanionÓ and band member Anand NayakÕs original ÒWhatÕs ThatÓ touch on deathÕs mysteries. ÒOil In My VesselÓ serves up a gumbo of folk traditions; there are at least four different songs tossed together here (itÕs credited to Joe Thompson), and who knew ÒAmazing GraceÓ could sound any happier?

ÒFarewell AngelinaÓ is an interesting choice for a Bob Dylan cover (Òthe sky is erupting/I must go where itÕs quietÓ), but its hootenanny tempo is light years removed from the original. ÒThereÕll be time enough for darkness when everythingÕs gone,Ó Arbo sings over a melancholy beat on the albumÕs closer, a cover of Daisy May ErlewineÕs ÒShine On.Ó

ThatÕs the message of ÒBig Old LifeÓ Ñ shake the demons from the dark moments and dance joyfully into the light.