Fare Well

Start with a touch of Peter Himmelman, add a dash of Aimee Mann, and a bit of the Wallflowers, and you'll come close to what Uma sounds like. You see, the various band members and guest musicians on Fare Well have played with those folks and more, all the while honing their own craft, defining their own style. What these artists all have in common is an approach to songwriting that involves more than just a hook and a handful of clichés. Instead, they insist upon literate lyrics with layered, often obscured meaning, melodies that are memorable but complex, and arrangements that meander through a song's structure, making it a living creation rather than a formulaic afterthought. Chris Hickey, Sally Dworsky, and Andy Kamman are officially Uma. Hickey takes on the leading role as main vocalist and songwriter, though Dworsky steps out front on three tunes. Her sweetly pure voice is a great complement to Hickey's more nasal tones and would have been welcome on more tracks. Drummer Kamman provides the rhythmic backbone and backbeat with steady delicacy and power depending on the mood. Standout tracks include "Friday Morn," "Palisades," "Lullaby," "Under the Water," and "Untitled." Dworsky's "Slow" is a particularly moving piece, with its tender, yet driving acoustic and edgy, distorted electric guitars playing off each other underneath her heavenly voice and poetic lyrics. Although it is probably a little tricky to find, try to get hold of a copy of Fare Well. You'll be glad you did.