Written
by Frank McClure, posted by blog admin
Following
up the momentum established by his 2015 solo release Ignore the Evidence, singer/songwriter Michael Askin continues to
push an impressive career forward with his third EP, Road by the River. Though
only 5 tracks long Askin makes the most of the EP’s relatively short runtime by
employing extremely thoughtful songwriting, great playing featuring a very nice
balance of varying instrumental textures and solid melodic vocals that lament
on loss, heartbreak, etc.
The
title track sets the tone as sweeping acoustic guitars thread together multiple
melodies via a couple of guitar lines while the bass lines provide a somber
push and the drumming vaults across lively snare patterns that keep the tune
moving energetically forward. Michael’s
vocals shine brightly throughout and when the chorus strolls through there’s
some nice double-tracked harmonies added to soothe the ears. Overall, it’s a lush composition draped in
organic folk and country shades that are an absolute beautiful joy to
behold. “Nashville” opens with a
heartland acoustic country guitar line set against hickory cured, smokehouse
melody vocals from Askin. Gleaming steel
guitar runs pretty up the musical backdrop and the song seasons the tuneful
country/blues with some popping percussion, rocked out guitar riffs and driving
bass lines during its second half that keeps the
structure constantly evolving.
A
sweeping unplugged lick intros “Sun Going Down,” a downturned blues-leaned cut
that sounds tough and dirty even at its most melodic. Electric lead squalls pile atop the chopping
acoustics as Askin’s voice embraces a gruff attack element. Heavy riffs and howling organs further the
molten, 70s hardened blues textures and the end result is a composition that
could appeal to fans of Leslie West and Alex Harvey. A folky lead-in groove laid down on the
acoustic sends “Hard to Make a Living” back down the aural dirt roads of Dylan
and more recently Iron and Wine.
Minimalist drum work providing a simple beat, fuzzy background guitars
and another dose of Americana organs give this serenity jam a real set of
musical legs to run on as it heads off into a glowing orange sunset in the wild
American West. Closer “Last Train” also
adopts these similar country n’ western folk influences by kicking off with a
begotten acoustic guitar riff upon which Askin’s vocal melodies drift wayward
in a ghostly, breathy melody that’s instantly infectious. Again Michael’s use of the organ is some of
the best by any modern artists and it enhances this track with a soft
orchestral grandeur that wraps around the smoldering guitar lines and campfire
lit vocals. The organ work also gives
way to some unusual 80s sounding synthesizers that take the tune in an entirely
different direction altogether.
Fantastic
work all around by Michael Askin on Road
by the River; quite frankly the writing on this EP is so good that it eats
like a satisfying full-length. Each of
the 5 cuts has its own merits and multiple nuances to reveal as you listen to
the music more and more. Anyone into
alternating acoustic/electric folk, country, blues and rock sounds would do
well to add this release to their collections.
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