daylies music: You Crazy Dreamers

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

You Crazy Dreamers

Gregory Alan Isakov - This Empty Northern Hemisphere

Posted: 06 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Listening to Gregory Alan Isakov third opus with headphones is like embarking on an emotional roller coaster. Fasten your seatbelt, push the ‘play’ button and don’t forget to breathe.

On his previous album Gregory reached a summit with this purified folk, these hypnotizing tempos, this prose; I was a bit apprehensive when I received this new collection of songs. But even if The Moon Song seems like a continuation of That Sea, The Gambler, the complete taste of This Empty Northern Hemisphere left me bewildered.
The repertoire of this Boulder composer has definitely grown and gotten richer. With Evelyn, or Big Black Car, he flirts with cheerful rhythms without ever denying his very own self though. And you will have guessed, it’s all about happiness. Happiness, finely mixed with some gravity and melancholy : a true emotional roller coaster !
This Empty Northern Hemisphere already is one of this year’s albums you can’t get around. Enough said, listen and be convinced.

I had the privilege to preview this album a month ago… and I have been asked to share this single song ‘Evelyn‘. Even if it’s a stunning track, it’s far to be my favorite. All in all, I do thanks the promo-staff from preserving me choosing a favorite…

Artist : Gregory Alan Isakov and the Freight
Label : none.
Where to buy ? Please hold until the release date : May the 15th, don’t miss the cd release party @ boulder.
More Appetizers : @myspace.com
Who else to enjoy : Danny Schmidt (shame on us just mentioning his name…), Elizabeth Cotten