Reprinted From To-Nite Magazine
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 Gladstone's
Psychedelic Pholk Psongs Psincerely PhloatsCD release Fri Oct 26, - Silver Dollar When I reviewed Brian Gladstone's debut CD Back To The Dirt, I latched onto a phrase to convey some sense of it all. I used "psychedelic folk music" to impart meaning to something difficult to categorize. Brian must have understood too, because he's titled his new 19-track odyssey, Psychedelic Pholk Psongs. Brian's belief in Back to the Dirt helped it garner world-wide attention, and remain in the Top 100 Worldwide Mainstream Charts for many weeks. Brian now has fans from all across the world.  PPP involved 10
months of dedicated all-consuming effort spent in its writing,
recording, mixing, and artwork. Its impetus was founded on a
desire to create a landmark statement. It all came to pass in
Brian's home studio: a quilt work of spare parts picked up at
blowout sales at Long and McQuade.The resultant effort is an even more convincing canvas than BTTD. That CD merely hinted at Brian's talent: this one marks a showman at the top of his game burning with that light of creativity fueled by a wellspring of ideas. When combined with a willingness to take more risks, this elevates things to a far, far higher level. For those not familiar with Brian, he is finger-picking guitar master, an insightful lyricist, a colourful story-teller, and a dynamic performer. Brian is an explorer of human nature, but he wants you to take time to understand him and his songs, some of which are playful, others thoughtful, and still others downright paradoxical. 70-minutes of captivating music are book-ended by liner notes/lyric sheets, which unto themselves comprise a wild, exotic journey (it'll take the better part of an hour to read them cover to cover!). As mentioned, this a more complete and complex opus, with a greater panorama of influences (Celtic, authentic Country, Bluegrass, Blues), and a magnified reliance on shifting moods. It all makes for a far more comprehensive and satisfying musical statement. PPP is guaranteed to keep you alert. One instant you'll be savoring a thought-provoking "Save The Wolverine": a musical plea that speaks of man's contradictory impulses toward nature - self-fulfilling and self-destroying. The next moment, "Do You Think You're Dorothy" investigates the motif of good and evil within the context of the Wizard of Oz, salting it up with interesting observations that rub against the common grain. "Megacity Mel" is a laugh-a-moment satire on the foibles of our irascible (and unpredictable) mayor, while "Queen of the West" is a heartfelt commentary on the mindless pursuit of celebrity. "Norm's Living Room" was a spur-of-the moment composition, done to honour Norm Hacking, a highly-respected folkie/father figure who has graced the stages of the legendary Tranzac Club. The sound is pure and unamplified, and Brian, along with co-producer Robert Digioia kept the home-based atmosphere at the forefront, giving everything an intimate feel. Several, spicy, tasty solos were added by one of Canada's foremost guitar aces, Tony Quarrington. Other performers include legendary Daisy Debolt, Ron Korb, and Maureen Brown, and Brian's sister Bonnie. Many will be on hand for Brian's CD release party at the Silver Dollar Room on Friday, Oct 26th. Brian's finger-picking is a tip-off to his debt to the old masters. You'll hear him on acoustic guitar and dobro (there are four instrumental standouts on this collection). Charming melodies, gripping lyrics, and first-rate musical craftsmanship make for a pstunning pstrand of phantastic pearls (and I mean that psincerely!). Make a point to log onto Brian's hallucogenic website: www.backtothedirt.com. There's no need to wax nostalgic for psychedelia to appreciate this grand musical kaleidoscope. And you definitely won't need any artificial stimuli to alter your mood. You'll reach a state of bliss by simply soaking up the pleasure-giving endorphins naturally released by Psychedelic Pholk Psongs. It may even expand your state of consciousness too. |