Your reviewer couldn't say whether it's the inherent internet revolution, the current wholesale recession situation in the music biz, or just plain fear of what Dubya and his minions will unleash on us, but whatever the reason, the upsurge in artists getting out and going the cottage industry route is refreshing just now.
Especially when the end results can be so engaging. Whisperin' & Hollerin' recently (again) recommended Huddersfield's INSTANT SPECIES, who have just released their fourth cool album under their own steam, and now here's a fine US-based singer/ songwriter who's making a good job of going it alone.
DAN SMOLLA hails from Dekalb, Illinois, and writes joyful (sometimes), emotional (always) and thought-provoking songs with elements of Alt. Country, folk and (I think) loose echoes of early '70s Stones flowing through their veins.
It doesn't surprise that Dan has performed at a number of open mics on his home turf, as most of the songs on "Swimming In Wind" (his second album) are warm, acoustic-based things, often embellished with spasms of electric/ slide guitar, sax or double bass.
There are 11 songs on "Swimming In Wind", and most of 'em are pretty damn engaging and just the right side of oddball. Smolla's songs are rarely obviously linear, though opener "Fields Of Hope" does swing with a nagging, old skool rock'n'roll feel and a joyous horn arrangement.
Other tracks, meanwhile, often veer off at unlikely tangents. "Patterns," for instance, kicks in with skittering breakbeats and a sonic stance not dissimilar to Beck circa "Odelay", while the ensuing "Swimming In Wind" itself reminds strongly of Jay Farrar (circa Uncle Tupelo's acoustic spell), with a distinct downhome feel and Dan taking his time in bringing on the chorus.
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Repeated listening is recommended, as tunes like "Lucky One" and "Heaven Through The Woods" really begin to impinge the more air you allow them. This reviewer also applauds the fact Dan's open-minded enough to mix back-porch acoustics with unusual textures (like the shot of drum machine on "Lucky One"), or include a full-pelt bar-room rocker a la Replacements in "Cheap Restaurant" slap in the middle of the hickory-smoked mellow vibes.
Viewed clinically, some of the tunes here ramble somewhat (few songs clock in under the 5-minute mark), and probably most would-be label suitors might want to tighten Smolla up comprehensively. That said, let's hope they don't go too far, because Dan's slightly ramshackle vibe is an important part of his inherent charm.
Dan's own bio suggests his music is "Kerouac soaked" and "Swimming In Wind" suggests he shares a similar freewheelin', freestylin' anything-goes attitude. Crucially, though, "Swimmng In Wind" promotes this liberation without sacrificing decent tunes. Make sure to search for this guy, folks.
(FOR MORE INFO: www.dansmolla.com
or: newindiemusic@yahoo.com )
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