New Zealand folk/roots rock artist Derek Lind released his first album Mixed Blessings in 1986, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that I first heard his music. In 1993, R.E.X. Music, who had mostly been known for metal releases and a handful of alternative artists, began a sublabel dedicated to acoustic and folk music, Storyville Records. So Lind’s third album, 1990’s Slippery Ground was repackaged for distribution to the U.S.
Lind’s association with Storyville, and the label’s existence, was short. 1994 saw the release of Stations, this time exclusively through his label Someone Up There, but this time the release saw distribution in the US as well as his native New Zealand. The album had a dense, bluesy feel and lyrics that hinted somewhat at the Stations of the Cross, though it wasn’t a clear concept album.
“Sacred Conversation” displays this most clearly. There are a few great versions of this song to be found online. We’re including the original studio album version, as well as an in-house live version recorded in 2022 with some friends jamming in a house setting. The live version isn’t pitch perfect, but it’s a really fun take on the tune.
Studio version:
Live, in-house jam session:
