Leicester
Mercury - 03 May 2007
BRITTON DRAWS ON AMERICAN INSPIRATION
Dan
Britton “Turn the Stars Upside Down” (Musician 2007)
Dan Britton's first
trip to the United States has given him plenty of inspiration for his new album.The
Leicester singer-songwriter visited Nashville and Memphis, as well as pursuing
his interest in the history of native American Indians. Two songs - The Return
of Crazy Horse and Leonard (about Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist)
have made it on to the album, Turn the Stars Upside Down, which is out now on
Leicester label Musician Records.
Britton
told The Week: "I had got other songs about their situation which didn't
make it on to the album, so I guess the trip did influence me."Also, as you
get older you move away from writing love songs to other stuff which you read
that interests you. "That's how I heard about Leonard Peltier. There is a
big campaign in the USA to free him after claims he was wrongly jailed for the
murder of two FBI agents. In fact, Peltier's defence committee are putting together
a compilation album to promote the cause and it looks like my song might appear
on it."
Britton
has not totally shied away from songs of love and longing. Two of the songs on
the album, Can't Get Over You and Just Can't See Anyway (To Be With You) are cases
in point, but he admits: "I'm a happily married man so I don't have those
kind of issues anymore but I still like to write about them."
The
album, co-produced in the city with Neil Segrott, is Britton's starkest record
to date. "I usually use Chris Conway on keys but I've made a conscious decision
to strip it down to a Neil Young 1970s sound, and I'm really pleased with the
outcome," he said."The
album's getting some decent reviews and, as well as the City Blues Festival at
De Montfort Hall this weekend, I've got a lot of other stuff coming up including
a double bill with (Nashville storyteller) Bob Cheevers at the Edinburgh Fringe."
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Americana
UK
Heavy
and heartfelt set of songs reminiscent of The Waterboys at their finest
“We
need leaders/Not self-serving fools/Hanging out with rock stars/To make them look
cool.” So begins the apocalyptic opener “The Return Of Crazy Horse” on Leicester
music scene stalwart Dan Britton’s latest album. As warning calls of impending
doom go it’s one of the best, as Britton spits venom and righteous anger over
a huge and heavy sound that’s reminiscent of The Waterboys at their finest. Things
don’t lighten up much with the next track, a cover of Gillian Welch’s “One Morning”
which is much louder, more doom-laden and urgent than her take. A quieter moment
follows though with “Song for Eric”, a thoughtful and heartfelt piece dedicated
to Britton’s friend, the late great Eric Roche, but normal service is resumed
with “Just Can’t See Any Way (To Be With You)” and the title song, before slowing
down once more for the remaining four tracks. The album is shot through with Native
American imagery, but, it’s important to say, not in a laughable Ian Astbury style.
From the cover art via lines “carve my face in the sacred rock” to songs like
“Leonard” (dedicated to the legendary Leonard Peltier) there’s a real sensitivity
and empathy with that oft-overused and abused culture. The album’s one jarring
note is the final hidden track, a lads having fun in the studio song that’s entertaining
enough but rather detracts from the overall feel and power of what’s gone before.
But that’s really the only downside on what is an excellent album that deserves
to have Britton’s name mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Mike Scott.
Jeremy
Searle -
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Americana
UK
Journey
to Love CD 7/10
Superior
British singer-songwriter fare. Dan Britton is yet another performer from the
seemingly inexhaustible supply of excellent singer-songwriters coming out of Leicester
at the moment. “Journey to Love” is his second album and a fine thing it is too.
Beautifully produced, the album features great keyboards from Chris Conway as
well as good work from the remainder of the four piece band. But its Britton’s
acoustic work and vocals that are at the heart of the music and the forefront
of the mix, and mighty things they are.
He’s an admirer of The Waterboys,
and there’s more than a hint of Mike Scott in his lyrics and vocals – he has the
same soul. In fact if you ignore its origin “Journey To Love” could easily be
described as Celtic Soul. While there are some propulsive rockers like opener
“These Days” and “I Wanna Go Home”, the bulk of the songs are more contemplative
pieces like “It’s Over” and “Through Your Eyes”. Occasionally his lyrics can seem
a trifle obvious, for example on the title track, but it doesn’t happen often
and when it does but his performance and intensity carry him through.
The
best things here are a pair of tracks about starting and finishing relationships.
The aforementioned “It’s Over”, a nakedly honest assessment of a ended relationship
comes first, and is immediately followed by “Beautiful Face”, where Britton’s
emotional delivery is at it’s best and married to a perfectly judged delicate
yet intense backing from the band. I suspect that good as this album is, Britton
is at his best live, and so, while I can recommend this album wholeheartedly I
would recommend more seeking out one of his infrequent gigs
Jeremy Searle
-
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Maverick
Magazine
Dan Britton - Journey To Love CD
****
The good things
in life often require perseverance. The full charms of Mr Britton's new CD didn't
hit me immediately but, after listening to 'Journey To Love' for the better part
of a week, the songs are now leaving an indelible mark on me.
Based in
Leicester, Dan is an excellent musician and superior singer-songwriter. This second
solo outing is a huge artistic leap forward from his debut CD. The eleven self-penned
songs are meticulously crafted and performed with verve by Dan and the four-piece
band. The production is crisp, the songs thoughtfully arranged. At the heart of
these tunes is Dan's rhythmic acoustic guitar playing while the band adds colour
without overpowering him.
The propulsive
'These Days' is a strong, catchy opening number with fiery guitar playing and
subtle organ colouring. Neil Segrott, a wonderful bass player, provides the explosive
guitar solo. 'Through Your Eyes' is a more reflective ballad with atmospheric
electric piano from Chris Conway.
'I Wanna
Go Home', with it's distinctive guitar riff, is a powerful rocker with a melody
not dissimilar to Gene Clark's 'No Other'. By contrast, the pace is brought down
for the acoustic 'It's Over', a reflective ballad about loss. 'You can trash the
place, or smash my face but still you can't hide the fact that it's over'.
Song-writers are influenced by artists they admire,
Dan Britton is no different. For 'Beautiful Face' he plays a Gibson Dove, once
owned by Gram Parsons, and kindly loaned to him by Jenny Grech the widow of Gram's
pal Rik. It is a beautiful song with a catchy chorus and layered ooohs. The addition
of banjo adds an authentic charm.
The
theme of lost love rears it's head again in 'The Field Road', a surging rocker.
By contrast 'Gone #2' mines folk territory with its lone banjo. The attractive
'One Thing Still Remains' ends this fine set of songs.
Beautifully packaged,
this thought provoking CD deserves to garner Dan Britton a wider audience. Worth
repeated listens.
John Brindle
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