CHAPTER SEVEN - NEW ALBUM - 01/11/13
Nov 1, 2013 20:59:31 GMT 10
Post by shimmery on Nov 1, 2013 20:59:31 GMT 10
Damien Leith's Chapter Seven
It’s been so exciting to finally hear the full production versions of Damien’s new songs!
It’s apparent straight away Chapter Seven is such a polished album and Damien is revealing all he’s learned in years of experience here. Right from the start upon first hearing the songs themselves sound so beautifully crafted and then the production affirms that even more. The album sounds fantastic!!!! Beautiful arrangements and mixing!
Was great to see a lyric book included with the CD, Damien’s lyrics are beautiful and it’s wonderful to see his words as “stand alone” as well as being able to read along with the music.
First impressions of the album - words which come to mind are powerful, honest, pure and true.
There’s a forceful momentum behind the songs and this album as a whole and you can almost feel Damien reaching through the speakers to stamp this album as the place where he stands artistically. The album as an assured and powerful whole is still woven, however, with much delicacy and instinctive craftsmanship. The overall effect sparkles with lyricism and beauty within the strength.
Vocally? You know you can always rely on Damien vocally and he never lets you down, vocals are stunning throughout and with many variations. Falsetto is incorporated not just to express the melody but to really enhance an arrangement or effect and in many places the lines blur between where instrumentation starts and vocals finish. Damien also sings beautifully in his lower voice throughout and it’s great to hear him doing more of this and really showcasing his range.
Within the blend of songs there are elements of pop and folk all weaving in and out of one another into electronica, stripped back acoustic guitar, pure ballad piano, back into pop and then full spectrum sound. Cello is incorporated and Kevin Kelly returns with bodhran. Great to see the return also of favourites Eric Aranda, Steve and Cesar Marin. Unusual harmonies and effects throughout the songs give them a fresh sound so appropriate and exciting for this new start. It’s a sound in total that Damien has evolved over so many of his albums and live shows over years and now in his own studio has become his own signature.
Last Sad Song is spectacular. So much going on there and it has a sound that also makes it feel ideal for a single. Gary Clarke is listed on credits with Damien on this song for writing, music, producing and mixing. It’s large in scale, exciting, filled with surprises and sounds incredible. A lot of fun to be found in the lyrics also in the very clever litany of “sad songs”.
Love the layers that can be found through the songs. Felt some glorious influences of U2 in some of the sweeping soundscapes in early songs on the album, some moments in Last Sad Song reminiscent of the wide spaces of No Line on the Horizon and Pop jingle jangling in the underlayers of the arrangements with Damien’s epic falsetto carrying the instrumentation along as though on a wave. Touches of the feel of Crowded House’s Now We’re Getting Somewhere can be found in Without a Fight, and in others some of Damien’s own songs are recalled - echoes of the sounds of Not Just for the Weekend also in Without a Fight, A Million Reasons & Stronger than Superman.
Damien has once again mastered the art of the cheerful sounding song that has you bopping along then rips your heart out when you listen to the lyrics. Halfway Heart is such a song. Listed as written by Damien and Jon Vella it’s another example of an insight that Damien seems to be able to put into words so well on a subject maybe many will feel but not always articulate, that of being a halfway point in a situation and not being quite sure which way they’re stepping. This song is so interesting for being written in the midst of that point, not so much at one side or the other looking back or forward, such an interesting point of view for a story let alone a song.
There are so many amazing collaborations to be found in a treasure trove as you listen through Chapter Seven. The other artists and co-writers Damien has been working with have added a unique flavour and different nuances throughout the album and while it all has a consistent feel, those moments of the “energy of two” create wonderful landmarks all along the way. Credit to all the other artists Damien worked with on this album, they’ve all contributed to something so magical.
I love Damien’s songs with Andy Brown. See You Again and Never Forget have that beautiful wistfulness that is a hallmark of Damien’s flavoured with elements of Andy’s storytelling. Was lucky to see Andy perform as support for Damien earlier this year when he debuted Never Forget and he invited Andy on stage to perform it with him. At the time they said how from some of Andy’s other stories and songs it might be apparent which parts each had written and they definitely have their own styles when separate that are so complimentary when together.
Some of the lyrics in Never Forget remind me of elements I love in Damien’s For All of Time, the offering to be a caretaker to the heart of the loved one, to hold a heart in one’s hands and protect it. It’s a very culturally Irish sentiment that is found even within the meaning of the traditional Irish wedding ring and there’s something about this ancient sentiment that Damien distills so beautifully in his lyrics, so many of them echo this dedication and vow. Absolutely beautiful.
It’s great that Andy will be support for this new tour and hopefully there might be some more songwriting together on the cards. Any other time these songs would be my favourites on an album but this time i’m struggling to choose favourites, there are so many great ones!!!!
A collaboration with such a legendary writer as Joe Melson is mind-blowing in itself and the resulting songs here are so stunning. It’s so exciting to hear Damien mention that they have continued their songwriting relationship, hoping to hear more, more, more!! I Can Stop You Crying is pretty much as close to perfection as a song can be. It has everything - soul, beauty, hope - all with deeply moving melody and arrangement. It’s just simply breathtaking.
I’d heard Faith In Me at a couple of shows and loved it already in its acoustic form, and the album version brings it to another level again. Beautiful, beautiful arrangement. It’s such a stirring, positive and soul-affirming song and a real gift to anyone who hears it. Can imagine this song really inspiring people for years to come to stay strong and keep going on through terrible times. That’s the true gift of a great song - to be timeless and lend itself to the many and varied situations of those listening and still strike a common chord to all that it touches in equal measure. These songs with Joe Melson are so strong, Damien has totally come into his own working alongside such great talents and creating art like this.
Stronger Than Superman was another I’d been lucky to hear live in early stages of development at shows early this year and I’d remembered it performed then at a faster tempo than on the album. I love the album version and it is a classic song of Damien’s, a pure expression of exactly what he wants to be said, in a beautiful way.
I really like Million Reasons for the way it sneaks up on you. It has the sound of a song you’ve known forever and settles readily under your skin after first introduction. Gorgeous lyrics, and following many of the larger emotional landscapes in the album it’s a perfect moment to move inside to a smaller space and quieter conversation.
The Lonely Nights is such a fantastic way to end the album - it rumbles into view just like the big love Damien expresses for home and family in the lyric and it has a very triumphant feeling to it, that he has gone out into the world and carries his loved ones with him all the way. Fantastic!!
It’s been such a joyous thing to finally be able to hear Damien’s long awaited new album, it exceeded high expectations!!! I hope he receives the recognition he deserves for such beautiful work, it’s a classic album! Am looking forward to enjoying all the songs and always treasuring it amongst my favourite albums.
Edit: I realised later I hadn't mentioned You and I or Time to Go!! Love them both also and You and I is already becoming a favourite! But favourites is an impossibility anyway with this album, I think my favourites are going to change by the day, really loving them!
It’s been so exciting to finally hear the full production versions of Damien’s new songs!
It’s apparent straight away Chapter Seven is such a polished album and Damien is revealing all he’s learned in years of experience here. Right from the start upon first hearing the songs themselves sound so beautifully crafted and then the production affirms that even more. The album sounds fantastic!!!! Beautiful arrangements and mixing!
Was great to see a lyric book included with the CD, Damien’s lyrics are beautiful and it’s wonderful to see his words as “stand alone” as well as being able to read along with the music.
First impressions of the album - words which come to mind are powerful, honest, pure and true.
There’s a forceful momentum behind the songs and this album as a whole and you can almost feel Damien reaching through the speakers to stamp this album as the place where he stands artistically. The album as an assured and powerful whole is still woven, however, with much delicacy and instinctive craftsmanship. The overall effect sparkles with lyricism and beauty within the strength.
Vocally? You know you can always rely on Damien vocally and he never lets you down, vocals are stunning throughout and with many variations. Falsetto is incorporated not just to express the melody but to really enhance an arrangement or effect and in many places the lines blur between where instrumentation starts and vocals finish. Damien also sings beautifully in his lower voice throughout and it’s great to hear him doing more of this and really showcasing his range.
Within the blend of songs there are elements of pop and folk all weaving in and out of one another into electronica, stripped back acoustic guitar, pure ballad piano, back into pop and then full spectrum sound. Cello is incorporated and Kevin Kelly returns with bodhran. Great to see the return also of favourites Eric Aranda, Steve and Cesar Marin. Unusual harmonies and effects throughout the songs give them a fresh sound so appropriate and exciting for this new start. It’s a sound in total that Damien has evolved over so many of his albums and live shows over years and now in his own studio has become his own signature.
Last Sad Song is spectacular. So much going on there and it has a sound that also makes it feel ideal for a single. Gary Clarke is listed on credits with Damien on this song for writing, music, producing and mixing. It’s large in scale, exciting, filled with surprises and sounds incredible. A lot of fun to be found in the lyrics also in the very clever litany of “sad songs”.
Love the layers that can be found through the songs. Felt some glorious influences of U2 in some of the sweeping soundscapes in early songs on the album, some moments in Last Sad Song reminiscent of the wide spaces of No Line on the Horizon and Pop jingle jangling in the underlayers of the arrangements with Damien’s epic falsetto carrying the instrumentation along as though on a wave. Touches of the feel of Crowded House’s Now We’re Getting Somewhere can be found in Without a Fight, and in others some of Damien’s own songs are recalled - echoes of the sounds of Not Just for the Weekend also in Without a Fight, A Million Reasons & Stronger than Superman.
Damien has once again mastered the art of the cheerful sounding song that has you bopping along then rips your heart out when you listen to the lyrics. Halfway Heart is such a song. Listed as written by Damien and Jon Vella it’s another example of an insight that Damien seems to be able to put into words so well on a subject maybe many will feel but not always articulate, that of being a halfway point in a situation and not being quite sure which way they’re stepping. This song is so interesting for being written in the midst of that point, not so much at one side or the other looking back or forward, such an interesting point of view for a story let alone a song.
There are so many amazing collaborations to be found in a treasure trove as you listen through Chapter Seven. The other artists and co-writers Damien has been working with have added a unique flavour and different nuances throughout the album and while it all has a consistent feel, those moments of the “energy of two” create wonderful landmarks all along the way. Credit to all the other artists Damien worked with on this album, they’ve all contributed to something so magical.
I love Damien’s songs with Andy Brown. See You Again and Never Forget have that beautiful wistfulness that is a hallmark of Damien’s flavoured with elements of Andy’s storytelling. Was lucky to see Andy perform as support for Damien earlier this year when he debuted Never Forget and he invited Andy on stage to perform it with him. At the time they said how from some of Andy’s other stories and songs it might be apparent which parts each had written and they definitely have their own styles when separate that are so complimentary when together.
Some of the lyrics in Never Forget remind me of elements I love in Damien’s For All of Time, the offering to be a caretaker to the heart of the loved one, to hold a heart in one’s hands and protect it. It’s a very culturally Irish sentiment that is found even within the meaning of the traditional Irish wedding ring and there’s something about this ancient sentiment that Damien distills so beautifully in his lyrics, so many of them echo this dedication and vow. Absolutely beautiful.
It’s great that Andy will be support for this new tour and hopefully there might be some more songwriting together on the cards. Any other time these songs would be my favourites on an album but this time i’m struggling to choose favourites, there are so many great ones!!!!
A collaboration with such a legendary writer as Joe Melson is mind-blowing in itself and the resulting songs here are so stunning. It’s so exciting to hear Damien mention that they have continued their songwriting relationship, hoping to hear more, more, more!! I Can Stop You Crying is pretty much as close to perfection as a song can be. It has everything - soul, beauty, hope - all with deeply moving melody and arrangement. It’s just simply breathtaking.
I’d heard Faith In Me at a couple of shows and loved it already in its acoustic form, and the album version brings it to another level again. Beautiful, beautiful arrangement. It’s such a stirring, positive and soul-affirming song and a real gift to anyone who hears it. Can imagine this song really inspiring people for years to come to stay strong and keep going on through terrible times. That’s the true gift of a great song - to be timeless and lend itself to the many and varied situations of those listening and still strike a common chord to all that it touches in equal measure. These songs with Joe Melson are so strong, Damien has totally come into his own working alongside such great talents and creating art like this.
Stronger Than Superman was another I’d been lucky to hear live in early stages of development at shows early this year and I’d remembered it performed then at a faster tempo than on the album. I love the album version and it is a classic song of Damien’s, a pure expression of exactly what he wants to be said, in a beautiful way.
I really like Million Reasons for the way it sneaks up on you. It has the sound of a song you’ve known forever and settles readily under your skin after first introduction. Gorgeous lyrics, and following many of the larger emotional landscapes in the album it’s a perfect moment to move inside to a smaller space and quieter conversation.
The Lonely Nights is such a fantastic way to end the album - it rumbles into view just like the big love Damien expresses for home and family in the lyric and it has a very triumphant feeling to it, that he has gone out into the world and carries his loved ones with him all the way. Fantastic!!
It’s been such a joyous thing to finally be able to hear Damien’s long awaited new album, it exceeded high expectations!!! I hope he receives the recognition he deserves for such beautiful work, it’s a classic album! Am looking forward to enjoying all the songs and always treasuring it amongst my favourite albums.
Edit: I realised later I hadn't mentioned You and I or Time to Go!! Love them both also and You and I is already becoming a favourite! But favourites is an impossibility anyway with this album, I think my favourites are going to change by the day, really loving them!
(totally enthralled)
(shivers)
(rocking)
(bring it home baby!)
aka @just_Leithal on Twitter 
