Tom Brosseau - Cavalier
by Benjamin Howarth
published: 28 / 1 / 2008

Label:
Fat Cat Records
Format: CD
intro
Consistently pleasant, but unstriking 50's and 60's-influenced acoustic folk on British debut album proper from American singer-songwriter, Tom Brosseau
Having released a series of albums in the US, Tom Brosseau came to the attention of Fat Cat in 2006. They compiled some of the best of his music for the compilation ‘Empty Houses Are Lonely’, and are now releasing his first new album to British audiences. Brosseau’s voice is uncannily similar to that of Devendra Banhart, but, if you put that fact out of your minds, he has little in common with the leader of the freaky-folk revival. The songs on Cavalier are far closer rooted to the wandering folkies of the 50's and 60's - though ‘Committed to Memory’ reminds me somewhat strangely of Paul McCartney. Alhough consistently pleasant, this is a reasonably conventional acoustic-folky album. To really stand out, ‘Cavalier’ would need more striking lyrics, while its largest flaw is being rather one-paced. Fat Cat believe they have unearthed a major talent, but I have to report that the promise suggested on the earlier compilation has not been fully realised.
Track Listing:-
1 Amory2 Brass Ring Blues
3 Committed To Memory
4 My Heart Belongs To The Sea
5 Brand New Safe
6 My Peggy Dear
7 I Want To Make This Moment Last
8 Instructions To Meet The Devil
9 I'm Traveling The River On The Dakota Queen
10 Kiss My Lips
Label Links:-
http://www.fat-cat.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/FatCatRecords
http://fatcat-records.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/fatcatrecords
https://twitter.com/FatCatRecords
reviews |
Posthumous Success (2009) |
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Self-mocking latest album from North Dakota-born singer-songwriter Tom Brosseau, which looks to pre-war America for inspiration and then merges it with the more contemporary |
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