From the very first poem, Aztec Shawl, Richard Vallance makes clear his intentions with Canadian Spirit Voices.
The intention is to weave an incredible tapestry of poetry, literary translations, and both a fine short story and staggeringly detailed essay on the history of the Sonnet.

The second poem bayeux affirms this scheme, weaving two pronounced dialogues into a voice of solidarity. Afterwards, the poems take a distinctive styling, favoring the simile for a sort of concrete impressionism
as shown in Lasts the First Light

Cool and almost
warm as it were
as if in this wintered light
spilled
to thaw my dismal rooms both of them
like icicled drops

One can tell in this that there is a definitive lean on the visual aspects of the poem, and further on, where the weave starts for form a grander tapestry of words. The poetry itself is broken into separate colors to pronounce the concept and overall theme. Artistically and aesthetically so, this work truly shines, and although the language lacks a certain crispness at points, it certainly has no lack for originality or specificity in it’s subject matter.

In later parts of the CD, one finds him translating various works, including a group of Haiku to French, the ancient Greek of Hesiod, the Germanic of Shubert and the French Baudelaire, amongst others. Throughout all of these versatile writings, one finds the signature series of media Kedco has been renowned for. Pictures, royalty free in every CD, tie together each poem, translation, and Short Story.

Richard’s true strength lies in the Sonnets, long the staple of his musing,
This is demonstrated in such poems as Momentide, and is “Essay on the Sonnet” where he makes reference to a staggering plethora of Sonneteers, and makes reference to the likes of Shelley and Pythagorean geometry for the formal approach.

The sheer versatility, enormous devotion, and strict professionalism of Canadian Spirit Voices deserves Kudos in it’s own, making the book well worth the price. More than that, the incredible quantity of media Kedco offers for every CD accrues the worth threefold.

All CDs are 9.95, and can be ordered at the website below.