I was driving home about two years ago when I noticed that
telephone poles and the sides of tall buildings seemed to have an
inexplicable curve to them. A week or so later, I almost crashed into a
car which had been ahead of me but which I had not seen. I knew then
I was rapidly going blind.
By the time I “saw” the specialist, I could
not drive, or work, or
read. My wife’s beautiful face, and the faces of my friends, became
grotesque, distorted shadows – eyes where a mouth should have been,
a missing forehead, a scooped-out skull.
And because I could not read, I found myself
playing guitar and
writing songs, some as dark as the shadows dancing around me. Most
of the songs on this CD were written during this time. I think,
together,
they paint a landscape of feelings which words without music could
not describe.
The good news is that, thanks to the skills of a
sympathetic retinal
surgeon, I can see again. I drive, work, read, and my wife’s beautiful
eyes are back where they ought to be...
At age sixty, Max
Layton has recorded his first album of original songs.
Faced with the recent prospect of losing his sight, most of the
material
was written while grappling with major changes in his life. While
his vision
has since been restored, his journey has given him a cluster of
songs full of
poignant observations on mortality and family relationships (Max is the
son
of the late poet Irving Layton). He has a confident, warm
voice which takes
the listener by surprise when dealing with some of the
angular subject matter.
Produced simply and effectively by David
Woodhead, the CD, titled
“Heartbeat of Time”, can be also be accessed at
www.maxlayton.com.
Available direct: for $12.95 + $2.00 shipping:
send money order or
cheque for $14.95 to
David Woodhead at:
133 Albany Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 3C5
Don't forget your return address!