In which a saxophone playing session musician from Toronto explores his poetic side on an album written while touring around Canada.
Having been voted 'Contemporary Singer of the Year' in the 2013 Canadian Folk Awards' he's obviously doing something right although none of his four previous albums have made any real inroads away from his homeland.
His catchy tunes are appealing in a modest and breezy Paul Simon manner. For example, he makes some wry reflections on love with Fireman's Ball which shows how a burning passion can come to a bad end: "we started a war that ended in ashes"
In addition he shows off a nice line in slow balladry on Stop, Don't Fall In Love and Kiss Me Quick while, for those needing something livelier, you can clap along to the infectious Me Or Your Money, sway to the gospel rhythms of Non Believer or enter into the party spirit of the title track with the time-honoured invitation "C'mon everybody let's dance tonight".
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The mood shifts once more for the closing track,No Water which suggests that the artist's real strengths may actually lie in a rootsier direction.
A relatively brief twenty five minute encounter is not really long enough to forge a strong bond but Ian Sherwood's warmth and vibrancy is enough to establish that he has talent and potential to rise higher.
Ian Sherwood's website
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