JOINED LIKE NOTES is Daniel Gannaway's first release since 2007's HEADING FOR COUNTRY and is the musician's 10th solo release.
Daniel's solo material is stylistically recognisable, well established and mature. To one familiar with the breadth of his work, the title of this latest effort accurately positions it as a note in an overarching composition.
While perhaps not as musically adventurous or barbed as some former albums, such as SUMMER STORM or OP-ED respectively, JOINED LIKE NOTES carries through elements of both and marries them with the artist's signature style of intimate, melody led storytelling.
A Babe In My Mamas Arms is classic Gannaway and could be seen as a stylistic exemplar of his artistry. Likewise, Hurricane Proof and Save Trestles continue this thread. In the first instance, however, Daniel weaves in an edgier view of the human condition made apparent by the tragedy that unfolded following Hurricane Katrina. In the second, he highlights the often-unquestioned sacrifice of our shared heritage at the egregious altar of progress.
The album's title track, Joined Like Notes, gleams - both musically and lyrically. In it, Daniel has tapped the source of his creativity and touched the fullness of his talent. It also reinforces the album's moniker in that it hearkens back to the melody and fullness of darling one year - though the interceding years have made the artist more refined and creatively confident. Truly, an artistic hammer blow...
Though Daniel no doubt intended the title of the album to signify our mutual connection, it also serves to contextualise his artistic efforts to date. The harmonic ebbs and flows of individual songs, the creative provenance and progeny of albums, they're all joined like notes in a chorus.
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Review of JOINED LIKE NOTES @ The Log Book
Another EP-sized collection of tunes from indie singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway, Joined Like Notes brings us a few numbers that either came after his last releases, Summer Storm and Heading For Country, or didn’t quite meet those two collections’ stylistic parameters. With no such limits placed on it (i.e. a “country” feel or every song involving ukulele), Joined Like Notes is a bit more free-form.
Songs such as “Mail Order Catalogue” and “A Babe In My Mama’s Arms” harken back to his earlier works - sparse and yet atmospheric and moody - while “Hurricane Proof (Katrina)” and “Save Trestles (Sediment Flow)” take the opportunity to get topical. “Save Trestles” graced the artist’s MySpace page for quite a while before finally getting this release, and it’s aways been a catchy, toe-tapping number; getting the opportunity to hear it more clearly reveals it to be this CD’s standout. “A Slip In The Grey” and the title track are also stripped-down marvels of mood, with the former sporting some really interesting vocal work in the chorus. “Joined Like Notes” is more uplifting and mesmerizing in its own way.
Despite a thematic or stylistic angle to the songs on Joined Like Notes, it’s a nice breath of fresh air and a relaxing listen - even with the slightly soft-pedaled protest songs in (though they join a long tradition of folk protest songs in that regard). Highly recommended.
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Daniel Gannaway
Since the release of FINE BY ME in 1998, Daniel has been a strident proponent of independent music. As time and albums have passed, Daniel's music has stylistically ebbed and flowed - at one point pared back and raw, at another full-bodied and polished, but at all times potent and inspired. Bound and Suburban in 2001, for example, was a composition of stories and recollections that provided a beautiful counterpoint to the poignant simplicity of Bootlegged at the Temple, recorded the previous year. Daniel's 2004 release - darling one year - was perhaps his most musically confident effort, traversing a broad range of personal experiences and heart-felt issues, wrapped in some truly quixotic melodies. 2005's SUMMER STORM | a collection of ukulele ditties, on the other hand, was a wonderfully light composition which often belied the intensity of the lyrical content.
Daniel's most recent album, JOINED LIKE NOTES, continues this tradition and marks another waypoint on what has become a musical odyssey spanning more than a decade.
Daniel's first release for 2007, HEADING FOR COUNTRY is the kiwi musician's ninth solo release and part of a growing discography that includes work with band kidameln and contributions to two intrepid, imaginative releases by ELECPHONIC pseudonym. Fresh from immersing himself in these various projects, Daniel has returned to his independent singer/songwriter roots with HEADING FOR COUNTRY.
HEADING FOR COUNTRY is more personal than the incisive, politically inspired OP-ED. Daniel traverses the more subtle nuances of love and loss in tracks such as 'Sorry To Say', 'Lazy Sundays' and 'Sadly Don't Think So', while touching on death in 'Tiny Lights'. Conversely, 'Move Along Now' and 'Talk Yourself Up' provide some upbeat counterpoints, particularly via a galloping harmonica throughout the latter track.
Overall, HEADING FOR COUNTRYis more lyrically melancholic and, in some ways, regretful than former albums, but this suits the overt 'country-fication' of the melodies. Though venturing into an often-vapid musical style, Daniel manages to retain his innate sincerity and truth through lyrical inflection, which breaths life into the riffs and bridges.
A previous reviewer comment (associated with an earlier album) noted, "...each song's arrangement maintains a minimalist nature, which shows a discipline and a depth of understanding on Gannaway's part". Perhaps unsurprisingly, this observation remains true in the context of HEADING FOR COUNTRY.
Daniel has reinforced his musical adventurousness with this latest album and, in the process, shown his ability to turn his hand masterfully to a wide array of genres.
Tracklist:
01 - A Flower Down The Barrel Of A Gun
02 - Selling Off The Country
03 - Dividing You
04 - A Just Senator
05 - Save The Waves
06 - Inner City Temples
07 - Under The Thumb
08 - No Mall At Sharks Cove
09 - Student Debt Sucks
10 - Kiwis Against Seabed Mining
11 - It's Amazing Grace
12 - Saving Africa [Letter to Tony Blair]
13 - Waterfall Wahine [Waimea Valley]
Documenting many of Daniel's previously unrecorded songs of environmental, social and political importance, and re-interpreting others, OP-ED is an inspired compilation of acoustic material on guitar and ukulele which was recorded in Hawaii during February of 2006... [read and hear more at: CD Baby]
"...Perhaps politics might actually catch on if Gannaway were doing the singing, instead of John Ashcroft's barbershop quartet. It's a thought. But until the Republican or Democratic National Convention is converted into a Broadway musical, we'll have to make do with Daniel. And that's going to be just fine for fans of indie folk pop with a message." - Indie-Music
"...like Gannaway's home country, this music [SUMMER STORM | a collection of ukulele ditties] is an exotic, faraway place in relationship to the rest of the overall modern musical landscape. Nevertheless, these unique Gannaway sounds offer a pleasant getaway" - Indie-Music
"...The great aspect of the album [SUMMER STORM] is that each song's arrangement maintains a minimalistic nature, which shows a discipline and a depth of understanding on Gannaway's part. Underneath the ukelele, the cruising drums and harmonic supporting bass grooves provide an all around easy and easily recommendable listen..." - NZ Musician Magazine
"...Down to earth and laid back, it has none of the musical tension of trying too hard or the injection of false emotions. Suburban folky and bohemian chic, it [darling one year] ties up agreeably layered and distorted vocals into an angst-ridden, quirky pop as catchy as The Strokes but easily as mysteriously engaging as James Keenan Maynard..." - Indie-Music
"...A perfect blend of lyrics, emotion and rhythm...If your looking for some refreshing new music for the soul, I whole-heartedly recommend darling one year as a must have for your collection." - AllAboutSurf.com
"...like [Bound and Suburban] walking alone on the beach at night and seeing Jim Morrison and Jeff Buckley strumming and singing at the waters edge..." - Indie-Music
"...Gannaway's music [Bound and Suburban] brings to mind an updated Velvet Underground..." - Splendid E-zine
"...Herein lies the essence of Bootlegged at the Temple: simply an audience, a musician, and a quiet venue . . . - no hype... In context with Daniel's previous two albums - 'FINE BY ME' and 'flashback' - and subsequent release 'Bound and Suburban', 'Bootlegged' is a departure, which provides the listener a greater perspective on all of his work. Bootlegged is a great live album, which, over time, becomes as much a voyage of discovery and inspiration for the listener as for the musician himself." - Justin Walsh
At its heart, Sophomorephonic - like Elecphonic before it - is an infectious and original exercise in musical creationism. As an artistic endeavour, Elecphonic has established itself as a musically competent producer, and an engaging and varied alternative to homogenised, populist electronica...
"...Like an upbeat Seattle grunge band, with all the darkness you love without the attitude that killed the genre, Kidameln fuses contributions from band members in different locales to produce one of the most notable collaborations witnessed lately...." - Indie-Music
"...Simply put, the album is a collaboration between a few extremely talented musicians doing what it is that they do best. The collective of pool of talent, combined with a diverse set of influences and unique styles provide us with a very flavorful musical experience. The energy, the emotion, the passion that this motley group of performers pour into thier album comes showering down on you with each and every note. They are not about producing an agressive barrage of sound waves just to rattle windows. The music is more about a comforting, rythmic blend of inspiration and instrumentation that ought to be savored, by yourself, your love or in the company of good friends..." - AllAboutSurf.com...
