MIKE KOSEC: Falling Through Mountains… Love, Loss, and Resilience

Alternative folk musician Mike Kosec’s has a new CD out, in which are each song is very personal; it’s endearing that he shares them with all who listen. I’m sure he must have channeled his talents into his songs and I’m guessing it’s all part of a healing journey after the passing of his wife, Diane Kosec, to whom he dedicates the album.

I found the album to be a journey back in time with his use of retro sounds/arrangements and name mentions, etc. Here and there I found myself wishing he took bit more time to have his lyrics and story flow easier… but again this was his special dedication to his wife and I’m guessing that with each note and word, he probably had her in mind.

The wonderful musicians on the album shored it up with fun and interesting sounds à la the great songs of the 1960s and he keeps that retro going! Certain songs stood out to me for one reason or another but all the while I’m reminded that LISTENING to CDs is so subjective! Personally, I think it’s fabulous that anyone who does all that work to pull together a project—the songs, the musicians, the recording engineer(s), the artwork, all of it—just impresses the hell outta me!

Some of the songs that stood out to me:

• I enjoyed the ease of “Falling,” a sweet song and nice touch. Kosec added in a female singer on the album (on two cuts, “Falling” and “Diane.”
• “Above the Sky” is very Beatle-esque, with a nod to Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman.” Several songs on the album have Beatles influences for sure. I’m guessing he’s a big fan!
• Sometimes Kosec (seems) to change his voice to go for different retro sounds on his songs, such as “Higher.” Also, the name dropping within that song…. although it does offer variety, I found little distracting. To me it felt awkward and took me away from the song.
• His version of “Amazing Grace” was an interesting choice, containing new lyrics with classic tune!
• “Close” was wayyyy too close for comfort for me, with Sixto Rodriguez’s song “Sugar Man.” In fact I went to my Sixto Rodriguez’s CDs to figure out which of Sixto’s songs Mike may have been covering? I loved it because it reminded me of Rodriguez. (I got to see his last concert here in town 2015) He died in 2023. ( Boy, talk about a singer’s trippy story of late success!)
• The song, “Amelia” was interesting, in which Mike added in synth sounds to get those soaring effects that work for the song.

This CD has variety and a lot of good retro moments to it with those melodies… I’m sure it was a labor of love!