Dan Michaelson and The Coastguards – Shakes (Editions)
4/5
By: Richard Brant
Dan Michaelson has always had tumultuous relationships at the heart of his music, from the ever excellent Absentee to his current incarnation as Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards. Debut Saltwater took this theme to an individual level both musically and quite literally exploring the inner workings of Michaelson’s mind. Shakes follows on stripping back, further exposing vulnerability and self doubt with the prominence of the country music and western swing influence being an appropriate vehicle for such inner musings on human relationships.
Dan Michaelson is a musical juxtaposition in himself, his gruff, husky voice to many ears symbolising strength and masculinity whilst conveying messages so delicate and fragile. Shakes muses on the simplest of love’s intricate complications, exposing the confusion and upheaval of feelings these situations generate in a particularly poignant and vivid manner. The idea of the anxieties of just wanting and waiting to hear a love interest on the other end of the phone heard in ‘Pickup’ is so simply and aptly described it’s something that many can relate too.
Shakes takes you by the hand over a well documented scenery of love born situations, some joyous and uplifting others notably cold and heart-rending. Breaking the silence the clink of a piano is joined by those familiar husky tones of Michaelson as the trundling guitar caressed piece ‘All The Trying’ tells a story of love for someone that has been ‘burnt’ in a previous relationship, trying to breakdown the barriers and defences that have been formed as a result.
A dichotomy of track then takes hold in the form of ‘If Not for You’ which has a lazy melancholic feel to it, but has some beautifully relaxed uplifting lyrics “if not for you then what am I for.” In a sort of reality drenched Chris Isaac sort of way the slow dancing guitar melody paints the picture of holding a loved one to the point of not being able to feel ones arms, but still feeling the beating of a heart. ‘Love Lends a Hand’ switches this dichotomy on its head with the poor would be romantic numbed by love waiting for a girl to show up. The swaying care free tune acting as a cloak to the cold, frustration and solitude.
One of the many tender vulnerable moments is explored in ‘You Have Those Ways.’ Backed by acoustic guitar and a light sprinkling of piano Michaelson looks back, seeing the funny side of a slightly awkward, naïve individual unable to understand and control the natural allure of teasing and flirtatiousness.
This lack of surety is continued in to ‘Something Awful/Dancing’ as the acoustic guitar is joined by accustomed lap and pedal steel guitars in a swaying tune describing a man short of confidence, fragile and shy. “Can I take you dancing?...make the best of a short straw,” you can almost see him twitching, twisting his feet nervously and asking without making eye contact.
A natural progression occurs in ‘Pickup’ mentioned earlier, as our protagonist is now looking to speak to “her” on the phone with all the nerves that “that follow up call” brings. Mid song a beautifully harmonious instrumental rings around the room in a wide tuneful distorted echo. This trend continues in to ‘Forever’ as amongst the sliding guitars, an anxiety to know if the feelings of the love interest are the same take to the fore “..I wouldn’t ask for forever when all I need is a start. If I call you my own would you do the same?”
‘The Wait is Over’ is something of a deservedly happy ending with an uplifting instrumental seemingly celebrating success in love after this rollercoaster of emotions. ‘Dust’ takes this success on further, in a soft delicate ending talking as if from within a lasting relationship, the tune coming to silence in the middle to be followed by a slow solo of piano chords playing back the song you’ve just heard. It’s a heartfelt, touching ending.
Shakes can be quite a slow burner and it does take a bit of time to become accustomed to the various nuances within Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards, but once you settle and listen intently to words truly spoken straight from the heart, Shakes becomes an essential listen.
Dan Michaelson & The Coastguards - Love Lends A Hand by musicmule
Artists in this article: Dan Michaelson & The Coastguards
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