Dark Tea II

ニューヨーク拠点のシンガーソングライター・プロジェクトによる2NDフル・アルバム!!

ニューヨーク・ブルックリンを拠点とするGARY CANINOによるシンガーソングライター・プロジェクトDARK TEAの2NDフル・アルバムがCD / LPリリース。 バカラックからのの影響を感じさせるトランペット、FELTのギタリストMAURICE DEEBANKを彷彿させるギター・ソロ、エレガントなハーモニーとピアノが混ざり合う王道的ポップ・ミュージック! 20人以上のミュージシャンが参加し、ブルックリンとフィラデルフィアを中心にレコーディングされた作品。

Following the example of his 2019 debuts untidy blend of country-rock, folk, and 1970s songwriter pop, Dark Teas Gary Canino returns with a similarly easygoing tone and homespun spirit alongside more-personal lyrics on the also-titled Dark Tea. Whereas the debut involved the participation of Woods Jarvis Taveniere and Hand Habits Meg Duffy, both of whom suggest an accurate sonic territory, the follow-up features songs produced by Matt Barrick of the Walkmen, an early inspiration of Caninos. Also contributing production in various recording locales were Paco Cathcart (Eyes of Love), Ryan Howe (Punks on Mars), and Jason Quever (Papercuts) as well as primary producer Sasha Stroud. It opens with the reassuringly ambling, country-steeped Tears Down the Road, whose jaunty piano, drawling country bass, and touches of pedal steel underscore reflective lyrics that eventually give way to a wistful, acoustic instrumental outro. While much of the album dwells in a like-minded alternative country-rock, occasional divergences include the dreamy, keyboard-centric U.S. Blues and Losing III, a more-anxious synth pop entry with idiosyncratic surrogate drum tones. Dark Tea closes on the trippier Finally on Time, a ballad vaguely descended from Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane with layered vocal harmonies, spacy delay, and -- counterbalancing the opener -- dreams of getting back on the road. Along the way, album highlights include the uptempo, twilight-hued Highway Mile, whose bittersweet electric guitar solo is further tempered by soft flugelhorn and cross-stick drum rhythms, and the epic Down for the Law, which clocks in at over seven minutes. Throughout, Caninos conversational, melody-suggesting vocals offer the intimacy of fireside hangout even on the more jam-minded tunes. ~ Marcy Donelson