For anyone looking for a new Leonard Cohen in his prime, look no further. Dan Michaelson already has an impressive back catalogue via band days with Absentee and his more recent solo focus with his Coastguards. ‘Saltwater’ (2009), Sudden Fiction' (2011) and 'Blindspot' (2013) are all great records and now 'Distance', which is out via 'The State51 Conspiracy' Label on 18th August cements his growing legacy of fine albums.
The front page of Dan's website is just a plain white page with the band name and album title in black which seems like a good summary of the soundscape you will hear on the record. Music you can immerse yourself and get lost in, just shut your eyes and don't be distracted.
I hope the lyrics of some of the songs here do not relate to Dan's personal experiences too much. Whilst things may lighten towards the end of the record (slightly) two thirds are songs of broken relationships and lost love, quite brutal in their clarity of the subject matters.
The new LP was produced and mixed by Ash Workman (Metronomy, Big Deal, Summer Camp) so, that must have been a complete change of pace for him, after finishing the Metronomy LP. The production is first class mixing the band to Dan's deep, deep vocals perfectly.
Joining Dan in the studio for the album were The Magic Numbers’ Romeo Stodart (bass), Henry Spenner (drums), Laurie Earle (guitar and piano), Horse (guitar and pedal steel), Nightworks/Metronomy’s Gabriel Stebbing (cello) and Johnny Flynn (violin). Let's hope we see this unit out on the road soon.
At some point Dan's records have got to start reaching a wider audience, so come on all you Leonard Cohen fans, give Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards a listen, for those who follow Dan's music, there won't be any disappointments here.
Pete
10/11
As an afterthought, ' Distance' ends with an instrumental which moves seamlessly into the new Keaton Henson album 'Romantic works' if you want to play the two back-to-back.
You can listen to the single, 'Burning Hurts' HERE
You can pre-order the album HERE
Track Listing
Evergreen
Bones
Burning Hearts
Every Step
Getting it all Wrong
Evening Light
Your Beauty Still Rules
Somewhere
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