Mark
Nelsen – Childish Songs (Independent)
The founding member of San Francisco acid-trance-rockers
Electric Shepherd, Mark Nelsen’s debut solo record certainly incorporates
elements of psychedelia, though it presents an altogether lighter side of his
work, and indicates a genuine affinity with popular music styles – from Brill
Building classicism to indie and Americana. Recorded over a two-year period,
and with such a range of influences at play, there was always a danger that
“Childish Songs” might have been disjointed or incoherent, but the opposite is
true. It all hangs together and flows remarkably well, with a succession of
standout songs providing natural peaks.
He begins the album with “A
Clown's Response”, it’s off-kilter Western guitar and rhythmic roll
hints at Midlake, though nothing too overt, and it provides a near-perfect
launch to the nine-song collection. “Crazy but Gentle”
provides an instant contrast, its soft, undulating guitar lines slowly giving
way to a piano tinkle. Nelsen plays guitar, bass, keys and various percussive
instruments, but he’s assisted by other musicians, primarily by Electric
Shepherd drummer Sonny Pearce, and Zoe Blank, who sings occasional backing
vocals, and delivers a series of elegiac violin parts. She’s particularly
effective on “Oh! Romance”, an epic pop song if
ever there was, and cut from much the same cloth, “Still
Life” sticks around for nigh on seven minutes, without wasting a single
second.
Phil S.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.