Lyrical rocker Peter Himmelman, a St. Louis Park native, continues his philosophical and musical quest with There Is No Calamity (Himmasongs Recordings), an even dozen tunes produced by Steve Berlin, of Los Lobos. According to a press release, Himmelman ceded song selection to Berlin, who selected these 12 from the 53 tunes that the songwriter sent him. “Fear Is Our Undoing,” with sweet backing vocals, suggests: “Only love can carry us in flight / The answers we’re pursuing / Are only found in heat and light.” And the album opener, “245th Peace Song,” has a topical message for our age of discord: “Scapegoating, killing, hating on the other / Isn’t it time that we finally discover / Everyone you see could be your sister and your brother… Stop the hate.” Himmelman returns to the Dakota Jazz Club on Nov. 13. — Mordecai Specktor
(American Jewish World, 8.25.17)
