Singer/songwriter Domenic Cicala will be releasing new album Bitter Blues this Spring and has previously revealed the title track “Bitter Blues”. Previous releases include “Lonely, Lonely Covid Christmas”, Come On Over: The Honky Tonk Duets, and many more. The new album will mark seven years since Cicala’s last release of all-new material and encompasses “the many avenues of Roots Rock/Americana.”
Cicala’s new track from Bitter Blues, titled “Shores of Sorrow” is set to arrive along with a video on January 26th, 2024, but we’re very pleased to give you an early listen today here at Wildfire Music + News. The song features Domenic Cicala on vocals, Mark Noone on bass, Bill Starks on piano, and Arif Durrani on organ.
We may only be a few days into 2024, but this song delivers a feeling to which many can already relate of looking over the works of mankind and feeling a lack of warmth or meaning in much of society. Domenic Cicala isn’t at all preachy about that message, in fact the song is written and vocally delivered from a position of great humility and is built on a confessional tone, but its uncertainty is bound to resonate with modern audiences.
“Shores of Sorrow” was intentionally written to draw on Gospel traditions but the perspective of the lyrics is admittedly agnostic, so we get a sound that will call many of us back to the roots of religious music while the lyrical exploration brings us very much into the present day. With a persistent piano melody that carries the insistence of a person sifting through their life experiences for something to hold onto, and a light, almost ethereal organ component, Cicala creates another interesting duality that makes this a song of contrasts.
As for Cicala’s specific lyrics and vocal delivery, there’s a familiar world-weariness to their tone, but also a digging deep that makes this song even more confessional than you might at first expect. With the directness of many Johnny Cash songs, including creating surprising turns of phrases while using simple language, Cicala pieces together a life’s journey from the perspective of someone who’s aware they are “standing guilty as accused” and that they don’t have much truck with a higher power, if there is one.
But despite the uncertainty about that higher presence, the speaker continues to use language that originally comes from Biblical sources, however is still used in secular society to great impact, for instance the imagery behind “reaping what you sow.” The speaker also supports an anti-materialistic message, rejecting the value of “silver and gold”. One of the biggest traits of the song, given the subject matter, is the lack of arrogance. But in searching for a few things that he can adhere to, the speaker sketches out what you might call a humanist message which is, in essence, a merciful message of treating oneself, and others, with respect. The song aptly illustrates that deciding what you stand for in life is hard work and may take plenty of looking back before we can feel confident giving others advice about how to live. But that is nevertheless an exercise that is worthwhile and meaningful.
Domenic Cicala shares about the track:
I have always loved Gospel music for the feel and imagery. When I wrote ‘Shores of Sorrow’ I was wrestling with my own notion, an agnostic’s view of sin and redemption, heaven and hell. I wanted a very sparse “Sunday Service” arrangement. The feel of sitting in a small congregation with just piano, organ, and bass. The song true to gospel music has a sermon-like narrative. Ultimately expressing that while none of us are without “sin” there is more than just good and evil.
Cicala was part of the Roots Rock band Vincent 52 for the duration of its life, until 2012, and then he “started down a new road” of playing his own music and covering songs that are close to his heart. He also continues to perform in several configurations in the Maryland area if you are so inclined.
You can also look out for Bitter Blues to be released later on in 2024!
