Solo album from the voice of Pavlov's Dog, David Surkamp.
On the magnificent 'Dancing On The Edge Of A Teacup', Surkamp is ably supported by longtime friend Billy Costello on drums and keys and by his wife Sara on bass.
As ever, Surkamp's music is unclassifiable. It soars through the pigeon holes, stopping momentarily at a select few, then moves on.
There's a clear connection to the sixties throughout. On the face of it, opener,
'Looking For My Shadow' is an energetic, melodic progrock workout. But it's as much an ode to Grace Slick, vocalist with the legendary Jefferson Airplane, an artist who gave Surkamp much encouragement at the start of his career. Surkamp emphasises the salute by lyrically echoing the 'Airplane's druggy / Alice In Wonderland hit, '
White Rabbit'.
The beautiful '
Hard Again' has a lilting melody, massed female bgvs and a huge Spector like wall of sound.
Similarly, '
Highlife Bunting' is an acoustic stroll through a slender melody into a sweet chorus. The song's folky, dreamy feel is given bite by a cutting electric guitar solo.
It becomes clear that Surkamp now favours huge musical landscapes, into which he paints his snapshots of life, few of them well defined but all of them alluring and a joy to experience.
Surkamp's wife, Sara, is an expressive vocalist. Her husky, sultry voice is just right for '
Wrong's mysterious lyrics and big production. Inevitably, David joins in, but she could have handled the song on her own. It would have been a welcome counterpoint.
The clanging, chiming '
Losing My Piano' gets close to being album standout. There's a heavy sense of foreboding hanging over this song. Is it a darkly hued, stream of consciousness song, articulating a fear of losing someone's love? Or is it just full of nonsense lyrics?
The album's 37 minutes seems paltry in the CD age, but quality counts. I'll take 8 good songs over 12 tracks full of filler every time.
Written by
Brian Sunday, July 1, 2007
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