"The cast of characters that inhabit Messy Blue Ending could have been plucked from a Carver short story. Savage and Hearn carefully walk that fine line between lyrics and poetry always leaving room for her expressive voice to do its work. The album is beautifully recorded on analog equipment. The instruments come alive and their sound is elemental; a product of gut, skin, bits of wood and mineral. Grace Hearn’s voice comes to us straight from the hereafter..." the local planet
A shocking duo of intrepid genius from Seattle, with the degree of brilliance that is illuminating... Repeated listenings to this recording over a few days have left me more impressed each time. Although many are regularly plied, there is no substitute for fierce, irrepressible talent. And there is a deep well of it here.
Grace Hearn has the voice of the Goddess, resonating a deep expressive power under subtly dynamic control...Soaring so high but never for its own sake, soft but never coy, always painting pictures or telling stories. There are, literally, so many good words and so many amazing notes, it's going to take a long pleasant time before I think I'll have truly gotten a real handle on this work of art. This is a far cry from a music product, this is music.
The songs themselves on MBE are little movies, short, strange, beautiful stories I want to hear again and again. Messy Blue Ending is one of those rare records that we consider a true and precious find. One of the best we've heard in some time. PureMusic.com, August 2003
“unclassifiable music anchored with amazing vocals and effortless guitar… a tapestry of strange viewpoints, sweet seduction and instrumental expertise and clarity” Check out the rest of the review of "Messy Blue Ending" from Indie-Music.com. March 2003.
"Further praise must be
lavished on Michael Savage and Grace Hearn, who provide a deeply evocative
background soundtrack to the artsy action, and must be given credit for creating
and sustaining a healthy portion of the mood and dramatic tension."
Seattle Stranger
review of "Wounds to the Face" play with original score performed live. Full
review.
Feb 2003.
“The ethereal vocals of Grace Hearn flow like honey carried along by the exquisite guitar work of Michael Savage, and the result is evocative, sexy and somewhat reminiscent of the Cowboy Junkies. If they sound any where near as gorgeous live as they do on their stellar new CD, then this is one show you don’t want to miss.” Metro Santa Cruz, Sept. 2002
CollectedSounds.com review of the latest CD, Messy Blue Ending.
"The neo-folk duo
Hand to Mouth rises above the over-crowded folk music fray, high enough to be in
the clouds. The Seattle-based Hand to Mouth's singer Grace Hearn's voice drips
with the effusive ethereal qualities found in the expansive vocals of Kate Bush
or Margo Timmins from Cowboy Junkies. Acoustic guitarist Michael Savage matches
the emotional tone of the music and hauntingly swirls his arrangements around
Hearn's vocals. The result is a sound that both defies the folk genre and
defines a sound of their own."
Good Times (Santa Cruz Weekly) June 2001
"You could call
Hand to Mouth a folk duo, but that would do a disservice to the other elements
of the group's beautiful, atmospheric music, which draws its influence from
Jazz, world beat and pulsing electronic rhythms. Grace Hearn's vocals are easy
and sensual, while Michael Savage's complex guitar picking is the perfect
visceral accompaniment."
Eugene Weekly, June 2001
“Hand to mouth’s songs are
evocative and multi-layered, dreamlike in their simultaneous mystery and
immediacy, fascinating us by withholding as much as they reveal. Every song
contributes a high point to the album; there are no dead spots. Hearn’s and
Savage’s flawless and emotional performances hold us spellbound. An outstanding
album by one of Seattle’s most accomplished groups.”
Victory Review - July
2000
“From the syncopated guitar of
“Too Complicated” to the eerie piano, vibes, and drums of the title track, each
song is distinct, and a pleasure to listen to. Savage’s arrangements are
interesting and varied, never relying on the acoustic-guitar-cum-vocalist
formula that is so easy to fall into. All fit perfectly with Hearn’s sublime
voice and poetic songwriting. The final product is an aural lozenge that is hard
to find fault with.”
Sounds of Seattle
-September 2000
“...breathtaking use of
counterpoint… the vocals and instrumentation are never just miming one another—
which keeps things interesting and keeps me coming back to listen again. This
has pushed everything else out of my CD player for a while now.”
Ectophile’s
Guide to Good Music –June 2000
“This duo (Grace Hearn & Michael Savage) have come a long way. Hearn's voice is sensual and beautiful and Savage's guitar playing is the nearly perfect accompaniment. This is one fine CD."The Folk and Music Exchange September –2000
"There was some large listening going on. Well-filled ears and brain pans. The music was excellent, an intelligent sort of sensual experience." - Ithaca Times, NY
"Hypnotic... A command stage presence...Every song is an audio-visual experience that borders on being sensuous." - South Sound Sounds (Olympia, WA)
"Grace Hearn has a marvelous voice - an alternately ethereal and sultry soprano" - Washington Post
"Savage's guitar work is exquisite, it never loses its importance in the mix, even behind Hearn's compelling vocals." - KBCS radio, Seattle
"Never have I seen a singer with as much expression, beautiful. Grace has projection that ranges from a heart-felt whisper to full throttle. Michael and Grace are bursting with talent to the point that live performances are the best way to hear them." - Bluegrass by the Bay (San Francisco, CA)
"Great sophisticated guitar work with incredible, whispy vocals... together this Seattle-based duo cut a unique sound in the acoustic/contemporary vocal genre." - Folkweb