Artist.......: Chris Velan
Album........: Solidago
Label........: Newsong Recordings
Genre........: Pop-Folk
Catnr........:
source.......: CD (LP)
rip.date.....: 2009-08-24
str.date.....: 2009-07-14
quality......: VBR/44.1 Hz/Joint Stereo
Url..........: http://chrisvelan.com
track title time
1. Hard Way Learner 4:29
2. Wobbly Bones 4:01
3. Oldest Trick 4:30
4. Pauper In A Palace 4:19
5. Hunting Season 3:36
6. Go Easy 4:10
7. A Year Can Change A Lot 4:12
8. Out Of Range 5:44
9. I'm In, Come In 3:24
10. House Upon The Hill 3:34
11. May Your Soul Get To Heaven 3:43
Runtime 45:42
Size 58.73
Release Notes:
Chris VelanÆs music is born of duality, singing of darkness and beauty, love and
destruction, and of the struggle for personal fulfillment against the doubts
that so often hold us back. Solidago, his third solo album gets its name from
the late blooming Goldenrod plant, and represents the blossoming of VelanÆs
musical identity. A classically trained guitar player from the age of nine, this
album marks the culmination of a journey from a young boy holding a giant
classical guitar to a mature artist finally giving himself permission to let go.
In 2007 Velan spent half a year in California, writing, recording demos, and
frequently experimenting with his new material at live shows in and around Los
Angeles. His time there won him many new fans and formed enduring relationships
with a large community of musicians which are featured on Solidago, including
drummer Adam Topol from the Culver City Dub Collective, guitarist Dan Lebowitz
of the Brushfire labelÆs Animal Liberation Orchestra, Bay Area rocker Jackie
Greene, and Tim Bluhm of The Mother Hips, who also produced the album.
Solidago draws from a wide variety of VelanÆs influences from Dylan, Leonard
Cohen, Willie Nelson, and Van Morrison to early 80Æs new wave to reggae. His
vivid imagery and graceful storytelling reach new heights on ôA Year Can Change
A Lotö while ôWobbly Bonesö manages to convey both the horrors and hope
witnessed during his time in Africa touring UN refugee camps. ôHouse Upon A
Hillö conveys a loving and grateful sense of place. ôMay Your Soul Get To
Heavenö finds profound spirituality in a book of superstitions and offers a
blessing in the form of lullaby.
VelanÆs live shows are not to be missed, using looping he creates rhythmic and
melodically layered masterpieces that have earned him spots opening for Animal
Liberation Orchestra, Duffy, and Corinne Bailey Rae as well as performing on
NPRÆs Mountain Stage, and both Ottawa Folk and Blues festivals. He will once
again be hitting the road throughout North America this year in support of the
new record.