The Newmarket, Ontario folk singer and guitarist John Dawson pens 9 sincere songs here, where Manny De Grandis, Anthony D’Angela and Mario Di Cesare are along for the reflective occasion.
The soft and friendly appeal of “Life Just Came To Me” opens with Dawson’s relatable singing that uses warm acoustic guitar and De Grandis’ cozy bass. “Merry And Pippin” then follows with D’Angela’s lively percussion and the dense bass contributing to a rich climate of swirling song craft.
Further along, the rhythmic folk ideas of “Things I Meant To Say” welcomes Di Cesare’s well timed backing vocals in a song that carries a melody suited for an Iron & Wine song, too.
“Mend In My Ways” and “Once You’d Gone” finish Side A. The former is particularly intimate and flows with heartfelt songwriting, while the latter carries a dreamy spirit of thoughtful wordplay and Dawson’s intricate guitar playing.
Side B leads with the breezy and playful “I Know You’ll Say”, and “Last Goodbye” fits in easily with today’s version of alt-folk with its fluid acoustic guitar and introspection. “Where You Belong”, the best track the back half, then uses the meticulous bass amid eloquence and dynamics that bring to mind the legendary Jeff Tweedy. “Have A Little Faith” finishes the listen with strong attention to mood and plenty of timeless, rootsy flavor.
A collection of love songs and themes of families (both the beginnings and the end), Dawson cites influences like Clapton, Knopfler, Simon and Harrison, which are worthy comparisons. His songs are emotional, accessible and occasionally get scrappy, where the exceptional rhythm section really illuminates his craft. In the area of modern folk and roots music, Dawson has got to be well regarded in his home country, and hopefully will be here soon, too.
