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Dan Dyer has made his way back to Austin after spending a few years in St. Louis raising a family and producing commercial work, and a welcome return it is. His first incarnation, Breedlove, debuted in the late 1990s as an Austin outfit that soaked the music scene with a soulful R&B sound that was 2/3 pop, 1/3 soul - with Dyer’s voice at the forefront. Dyer’s self-titled third release picks up where Breedlove left off, but includes a gospel-revival driven sound fusing rock, soul, jazz, and latin influences with a little less pop into the R&B sound. Recorded on the East side with producer David Boyle, the album is a refreshing dip in the R&B pool which seems to be in short supply these days in Austin. Dyer’s rich, soulful voice is the splashing standout on every track. It pairs well when backed up by Austin-based Mt. Zion Baptist Church Choir, although with his grunts and moans wetting the tracks, you feel a little more like you are visiting him in between the sheets instead of church pews.
“Love Chain” opens the album fully layered with the gospel choir and Dyer’s crooning. “I Walk on Gilded Splinters,” the second track, adds a little New Orleans gritty darkness, paying tribute to Dr. John. John Nelson of Thievery Corporation joins Dyer on “Who I Am” producing a Brazilian dance hall sound that weaves in latin guitar work with a commanding beat against Dyer’s voice. “Love’s a Game” is a pared down track with just Dyer’s lonely bluesy voice and a simple haunting piano accompaniment.
“Anne Marie” is a track that you are treated to twice, and both are exquisite. The first plunge is Dyer backed with a full band and lyric simplicity - evoking a funkiness not found anywhere else on the album. The second dip is at the end of the album, as a hidden track, where Dyer leaves the blanketed funkiness behind and instead infuses a twangy version dominated by the harmonica and Dyer’s half-lyrical humming.
Dyer’s CD produces a smooth neo-soul sound that Austin has been begging for quite some time. It’s beautifully polished with a wide-open ocean of sounds that allows the listener to swim, requiring repeated plays to grasp the stunningly complex crafting of various influences and create a powerful listening experience.
Mp3 from Dan Dyer:
Dan Dyer - Love Chain
Websites:
www.dandyer.com
Myspace
