Return to
previous page

With singer-songwriters of varying talent currently saturating the airwaves, it is indeed an excellent time to be an acoustic guitar player. James Blunt, James Morrison et al will vouch for this, but although it would be far simpler to throw Daniel Rachel in the same category as them, it wouldn’t be entirely fair.

Sure, he has a gentle, tender voice well suited to mainstream audiences, and his music is certainly of the commercial variety. But that should not demean the quality of an album that ultimately contains thoughtful, well written pieces of music. ‘Let It Be Mine’ is soft, heartfelt and wonderfully performed, and the distinct aura of a breakthrough single emanates when you hear it.

‘Hearts and bones’ is far more upbeat, containing a toe-tapping violin piece that feels as if it comes straight out of a barn-dance. Instead of the aforementioned Blunt, Rachel is more akin to the offerings of Neil Finn and Crowded House, particularly on ‘Ode to the Fallen Heroes’. There is enough here to keep even those who most ardently dislike this genre of music interested and intrigued. With the current penchant for dulcet tones, there may well be more to come.

Donny
Neon Buzz