ARTiST: Perry Blake
TiTLE: Canyon Songs
LABEL: Reekus Records
GENRE: Indie
TiME: 38:01 min
SiZE: 52,6 MB
BiTRATE: VBRkbps
RiP DATE: Apr-20-2007
RELEASE DATE: Apr-23-2007
WEBSiTE: n/a
Track List:
01. Gemini 03:19
02. The Ballad Of Billy Bob 03:23
03. Do We Fall In Love In Lovesongs? 04:06
04. Songbird 04:19
05. The Letter 03:59
06. If You See Mary 04:21
07. Something Still Reminds You 04:51
08. Have I Let You Down? 04:13
09. Sometimes 05:30
Release Notes:
Sligo songwriter and wandering minstrel Perry Blake
has enjoyed more success around continental Europe
than he has in his homeland. Canyon Songs, his
self-produced fifth album, sees him in typical
downbeat mood, but there's a subtle country tinge
cropping up on some of the nine songs here that
might see him expand his loyal fanbase considerably.
'Gemini' opens the batting well with stirring
wide-screen strings, and 'The Ballad of Billy Bob'
uses strings and mandolin to effectively underpin
Blake's consciously fragile vocal. 'Do We Only Fall
In Love in Love Songs' is less satisfactory:
irritating plinky-plonk country, with the sort of
quasi-philosophical title beloved of Nashvillians
everywhere.
'Something Still Reminds You' reminds me of early
Simon and Garfunkel but the vocal is a bit monotone
to carry the song. Things pick up excellently on the
plaintive and affecting 'If You See Mary', with its
fine banjo colourings - and 'Songbird' is a
delicious slab of soft country-rock on which Blake
gets uncannily close to Neil Hannon. 'The Letter'
ups the tempo and, buoyed up by lavish harmonies,
emerges as a real highlight. All told, an
interesting record.