We've all heard of those musicians who always are “taking a deserved break”, or “on an hiatus”. Counter that thought with those musicians who seems to thrive on hard work, always have something interesting to say and appear to spend their lives on the touring and recording cycle.

Daniel Meade is a singer-songwriter from Glasgow who certainly fits into the later category, as 'When Was The Last Time' is his seventh album since 2013! Top that with touring alongside Sturgill Simpson, Old Crow Medicine Show and playing keyboards and banjo live with Ocean Colour Scene has kept him busy.

Daniel has said that each song on the album started out as a letter written by, for and to himself, as a method to cope with anxiety and depression but then decided that these letters should evolve into positive and hopeful songs “I felt the arrangements and production had to capture this same positive and hopeful feeling, so we went for big and driving for the most part.” 

The production on the first two songs certainly capture this feeling perfectly 'As Good As It Gets ' and 'Nothing Really Matters ' both have a Travelling Willburys' style big arrangements with “Hey, Hey” backing vocals , handclaps, and organ fills.

All of the sounds and vocals on the album are Daniel's except for the drums which were played by Texas' drummer Ross McFarlane and figure prominently in the best track here 'If The Bombs Don't Kill Us' which fits the anxious to uplifting mood ,“I don't want no fight no more, I'm sleeping in a church on the floor ...cannibals at my door, and it hurts”, which proceeds a Coldplay's 'Fix You' style moment when the drums kick in to provide the uplift. You feel that if Coldplay had written this it would be getting some serious radio play.

Daniel returns to the comfort of his usual roots based music on 'How High We Fly' which has a more stripped back feel of acoustic guitar and piano in the arrangement and 'So Much For Sorrow' which is a bare bones vocal only.

Lead single 'Oh My My Oh' is built around a keyboard melody and the sing-along ability of the title which you can easily imagine being sung with great passion by a live audience.

Daniel's desire to create an uplifting album with big arrangements has certainty paid dividends here, there's plenty of rootsy Americana, Air Fist-pumping feel good tunes here to uplift even the lowest soul.

When Was The Last Time' will be released on 1st May on Button Up Records

Alisdair Whyte

8/11

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