Leeds songwriter DANNY COPE has a new collection of songs for download or CD delivery from his own beautifully-made website.
The domestic industry implied in that simple story reaches right down to the use of household objects to generate samples for the percussion tracks. Sweeping the kitchen floor, unlocking doors and flicking light switches, such things as these have been recorded, diced, chopped and dropped into the mix for maximum texture. The phrase "bedroom music" has been taken a step or two further.
As we have commented before though, DANNY COPE is no lo-fi merchant. The scraps of real life are meticulously and unobtrusively re-arranged and compete at any level with pro session percussion. The songs themselves are lustrous tunes and the arrangements are as hi-fi as you can get with simple instrumentation. COPE is a bass player by trade and a music teacher by profession, so as expected, the quality of playing on all instruments is guaranteed by the fact that he does them all himself.
Unless you go to his last.fm tracks you are unlikely to hear tasters by accident. But if you appreciate JOHN MAYER then DANNY COPE is a name you need to follow up. I'm currently listening to Mayer's 2003 album "Room For Squares" and COLOUR ME IN would freshen up your listening if that's the sort of thing you were brought up on. If the name JOHN MAYER seems to say just a crumb or two of cheese - then think of COPE as Wensleydale to MAYER's cheddar.
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The songs are nicely weighted love songs that work just as well as spiritual statements on higher things. Either way they have warmth, human fallibility (fully admitted) and credible desire. The lyrics use everyday words and phrases that snuggle neatly into their tunes (just like the percussion). The accompaniment starts with accomplished acoustic guitar picking, adds bass, percussion and unobtrusive additional guitar and touches of extra vocals. There might be some subtle touches of keyboard. It's an organic, natural sound: the virtuosity is servant to simple accessibility.
Outstanding "start here" tracks for the radio would be "The Only Way" and title track "Colour Me In". Strong tunes, and clear messages. TEh opening chords of "Colour Me In" are just wonderful.
Each of the eleven tracks on the album has its charms, and the whole album offers a friendly break from the sharp edges of striving.
www.dannycope.com
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