I’m still trying to catch my breath.

Wolf’s CD Shallow Breath is the most joyfully energetic music I’ve heard in quite a while. As spiritually rejuvenating as a Southern Baptist revival, as breathlessly exciting as a kid waking up on his birthday. These dramatic world rock songs kicked their way out of my speakers and swirled through my room. I kept turning up the volume. You do not play this music softly. For once, my neighbors didn’t complain.

Fueled by lyrics that search the soul and profess belief in something beyond this world, Wolf blends his soulful voice with high-intensity percussion and what sounds like a full rock orchestra. He also scores a major coup by getting Kyler England to contribute vocals – her angelic voice adds another ethereal vibe to this project.

Wolf’s philosophical, poetic lyrics make him a sort of modern rock Shakespeare. I especially like the spiritual connection painted in “Wish”:

 Calling me from my youth today,

 I swear it was her voice to come her way.

 Expressionless faces

 from a pain that leaves no traces,

 the truth seems to hide somewhere inside.

 Wishing me,

 She’s wishing me.

The musicians joining him get as caught up in the feeling as he does. The beat in the funk/rock “Nothing” drives the energy, at times sounding like percussionist Khalil Bell has just tossed the sticks and is pounding away with flying fists and feet. Wolf does slow down on occasion, but he doesn’t lessen the intensity. The acoustic folk on the title track and the blissfully flowing “In The Name Of,” which sounds like a love song to a Higher Power, prove that he doesn’t use the ballads to take a break. Not until the final track faded away did he finally let me go.

Shallow Breath is a must-have. I did this for another artist last month and didn’t think I’d be doing it again so soon, but I am: the first person to e-mail me at jennifer@indie-music.com with their snail mail address gets a copy of this CD for free. I’ll order it from his web site and have it shipped to you.