ALBUMs

When was the last time you sat down and just listened to a record whilst doing nothing else? Well if you fancy trying that out, then, this is the album for you. Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards - Blindspot, is a slow burning gem that really does deserve your undivided attention. 

Dan’s baritone voice is his trademark and the record's centerpiece. An octave or two higher this time around (?), he remains thankfully the owner of one on the deepest voices in modern music. 

The album seems a close to 2011’s Sudden Fiction, which Dan described in our interview at the time as “a reaction to the landscape and atmosphere of Texas”. 'Blindspot' is a nice companion piece which blooms the more you listen to it.

Electric guitar paired with acoustic strings, piano and background horns give the album a purposeful, yet fragile perspective. Perhaps, we can claim, a ‘British’ Amercana sound?

Beautiful songs sung from the heart of a relationship. Dan deserves far more recognition than he gets. He now has a real canon of songs from Absentee, solo and Coastguards albums with another eight here, to add to that total.

You do find yourself wishing the LP had more songs at the end of side 2, it's that good so perhaps, a double album next time around ?

Pete

9/11

Blindspot is released on 25^th March on the State51 Conspiracy label

1. No Right Way To Move 

2. Enough 

3. Every Fold and Crease 

4. Sheets 

5. You Leave Me in Ruins 

6. Gambling 

7. Tremors 

8. By My Side 

Sudden Fiction Interview.

Dan and Bandmate(s) have announced a London show at London’s, St Pancras Old Church (Tickets) on the 15^th March and they will then be joining Beth Orton on her UK Tour in April:

04 April - Bridport, Electric Palace

06 April - Cambridge, The Junction

08 April - Newcastle, Mill Volvo Theatre

09 April - Edinburgh, Liquid Room 

10 April - Leeds, Irish Centre

13 April - Oxford, 02 Academy

15 April - Bristol, St Georges

16 April - Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms

17 April - London, Royal Festival Hall