Along with Robert van Buuren, Bob Dease is the mind behind
Acoustic Serenade. Dease plays guitar and percussion and van Buuren
plays guitar, bass and mandolin — and for this maiden release,
they add David Onstad on guitar and percussion.
Dease was born in Los Angeles, California where he played guitar
and wrote songs as a child. He later moved to Mendocino where he
met Robert van Buuren at a coffee house. Van Buuren was born in the
Netherlands but studied guitar in high school in the United States
as well as jazz and rock guitar, bass and mandolin.
Dedicated and courageous, this duo draws from the quiet and
gentle nature of Dease’s writing ability and the attentive guitar
playing of van Buuren. Dease admits fear can often get in his way,
but neither gentleman should have any precautions with this album.
Onstad provides back-up to complement an almost-perfect new age
result.
“Gypsy Traveller” has the frolicking nature of the
free-gypsy-lifestyle but also cleverly expresses the seriousness of
the harshness such a life can sometimes create. Their music is very
deliberate and the depth of feeling in this piece is easily felt.
“Sea Of Rain” is repetitive, although not to the point of being
boring – the simple chords make the song unlikely as a favorite but
it is not a shoddy piece by any means.
Free-flowing but serious, “Inversion” incorporates the
composition and performance skills of Onstad. The song reminds me a
bit of “House Of The Rising Sun” due to familiar chords, but is
accomplished enough to only make it feel familiar while remaining
original. Also, “Casale” demonstrates an Andrea Segovia influence.
It is clean, sharp and beautifully written and performed. It is the
highlight of the CD and my favorite, ending all too quickly.
“Quattro” kicks up the pace with a tempo change and energizes
the CD with its quick notes and charismatic chords. There is a
Spanish flair, albeit unpretentious, and this fortifies the song,
as do the many world influences that pop up here, such as on
“Free.”
Acoustic Serenade also incorporates jazz, bluegrass (“Forest
Lake”) and soft rock into this release. This eclectic duet is
immensely talented and their basic acoustic style of performance
allows room for their composition abilities to be elevated and
brought to the surface. The instruments merely carry the music
rather than create it. The distinctive personality of each
participant gives reign to express a refreshing and joyful CD.
[For more information, visit
www.moonrisecd.com]
