Subtle and Sweet folk music from Wales
Most people reading this review will probably be of an age where they have pretty defined music tastes and don’t have the time or inclination to readily discover anything too radically new. I too am a bit like that; but as a music reviewer I can still discover new genres that can spin my preconceptions 359 degrees. This album by Dan Amor has just done that for me.
I was intrigued by the opening song, Sister Anne which shares its title, with a noisy Punk song by the MC5; but is actually the polar opposite as this twee Folk song sounds a lot like White Album Paul McCartney and is absolutely delightful.
The album had been on repeat; in the car 3 or 4 times when I realised that several tracks are actually sung in Welsh!
I guess the power of music and Amor’s presentation means; much like Opera and some forms of World Music the listener doesn’t always need to know the meaning behind a song to appreciate the beauty of a voice and piece of music; which is what happens here on the epic Y Ci which closes the album; but the anthemic and slightly hypnotic Y Gwent is just as memorable in its own way.
On Springtide Amor accompanies himself on piano on another track that evokes memories of early McCartney but with Ben Folds overtones.
From the highly colourful album sleeve to the Press Release which lists several artists that I can’t abide as ‘influences, coupled to the fact Dan sings in his native Welsh language (and English I hasten to add) there should be nothing here for me to like…..but I do; a lot.
released May 12th
The Rocking Magpie 