After his last album, ‘Two’, released some 8 years ago, Dan, by his own admission was feeling somewhat burnt out, and in need of a change. So the London-born troubadour took him to travelling America, Mexico, and Europe. Clearly, the sabbatical has done wonders for him.
The songs are all of a wonderfully high standard, such as the country fuelled, ‘My own Time’, the whimsical ‘Me and my Lady’, and ‘Nothing like a Woman’, but there are a number of songs that require special mention and elevate the album to a different level.
Lead-off single ‘Wasn’t that enough for Me’, is a case in point.
The singer contemplates what has he lost, at the end of a relationship, five minutes after that ‘sliding doors’ moment, when he can’t go back, and yet, there will always be that, nagging doubt, was it real love left behind?
Somethings I will recall as long as I live
Your kiss on that last morning,
And the smell on your skin
Wasn’t that enough for me, to have you only,
Wasn’t that enough for me
At times he reminds me of Jason Isabell vocally, and that is quite a compliment.
‘New Born Man’ is a character story tale, and one of defiance against odds:
I was born in New York City,
Cerebral Palsy wrecked my spine. But I do not want your pity,
You got your problems, I got mine
‘Only a stone’s throw Away’ has a similar theme of defiance and survival, this time from the eyes of a migrant seeking refuge, on the Mexican/American border:
We’ve been cursed at, spat at, and asked why we have come
Some barefoot on the asphalt, with no shelter from the sun.
But you only leave your home, when your home won’t let stay,
And we’re only a stone’s throw away
The album highlight, for me, is ‘Water reflects what it’s Shown’.
The song allows Dan to voice his concerns about society’s lurch to the right, in a time, where, as the singer states himself : “Snake oil salesmen are flourishing on the political scene, peddling scapegoats and promising easy cures to deep problems. That worries me, because we know where that can lead, if enough people take them seriously (and empower them with their vote.)”
One wonders who he could possibly be referring to!
You might have fed a lot of snakes on your way here
Climbing up that slippery pole
They might call you king,
But it don’t mean a thing,
‘Cos water reflects what it’s shown
Wonderfully direct message delivered over a glacial, soulful soundscape, punctuated with some great guitar. Dan has suggested this is a direction he may pursue in the future, which augurs well, as this is a killer track.
‘Wayfarer’ is a fine collection of songs that showcase Dan’s deft skills as a songwriter of real insight and emotional lucidity, and as a singer.
Watch this space!