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Non-Prog CD Reviews

Andrew Durr

Time Frame

Review by Gary Hill

If you like retro styled sounds that land mostly in the folk vein, this set is for you. It has a good range in terms of variety and style, but everything is quite retro in texture. This is also high quality. The one complaint I have is that it is quite short - running just a little over half an hour of music. Then again, sometimes less is more, so perhaps that's a good choice. It certainly never wears out its welcome. I have to say that I'd love to hear more from this artist, though. He has a strong voice and seems to feel a real passion for his craft.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) in Music Street Journal: 2019  Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2019.

Track by Track Review
Hard Times Come Again No More
Acoustic guitar and harmonica are the driving factors of the introduction here. The vocals come in deep and rich and do a great job of carrying the piece. This is slow moving folk music with a healthy helping of country in the mix. The backing vocals bring some magic to it.
Are You Making Any Money?
This fast paced cut is a fun old time based number. It's a bouncy and playful cut.
Pastures of Plenty
A powerful and dramatic folk tune, this is so cool. It's evocative and among the best of the set.
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
A mellower folk based tune, this is pretty and powerful. The backing vocals add a lot to the mix. The organ lends a retro texture. The whole piece has an angry rocking edge to it.
Pennies from Heaven
A recording of a woman singing that sounds like it's over the phone begins this. She sounds like she's crying. From there guitar and harmonica rise up with the melodies. The tune works out to another timeless folk song that's powerful.
Who's Been Polishing the Sun
Energized and bouncy, this is a fun little number. Again I like the organ on the tune. This is more of an old time rock and roller than it is a folk song. It's one of the highlights of the set. The harmonica brings something special later in the number, too.
The Way You Look Tonight
A dramatic and powerful tune, this has great piano in the mix. It's another highlight of the set. It's packed full of emotion and has an exceptional vocal arrangement.
Keep On the Sunny Side
This comes in trippy and almost prog or space rock oriented. It's a slow moving piece with some psychedelic tendencies. The song is a big change from the rest of the album but suitably moody.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
We're back into some pure folk territory here. This feels impassioned, and the backing vocals add a lot of flavor. This has a lot of gospel built into it.
Life Is Just a Bowl Of Cherries
There is an almost bluesy, but yet bouncy, guitar vibe to the start of this. The cut gets more playful as it moves forward. This is a fun and highly infectious piece. The whistling adds to the carefree vibe of the number.
 
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