Michael MacLennan - Wolves

  by Lisa Torem

published: 17 / 2 / 2012

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Scottish pianist and singer-songwriter, Michael MacLennan, is from the Highlands. Music may be in his roots and must be in his blood. He began playing the piano at seven and went on to attend the Royal College of Music, where he performed nightly and wrote two compositions a day for an entire year. It’s no wonder that the songs on his debut, ‘Wolves’, are so brilliant. MacLennan even got attention from Rod Stewart one evening in a London pub, when he was playing a cover tune. His profound storytelling and sophisticated voice draws comparisons to Billy Joel and Jackson Browne. ‘Fall Down on Me’ features MacLennan’s warm resonance and vulnerable, vocal ache as it washes atop his gospel-like piano. “And the night time is so much better,” he sings, in a sonnet which can’t make up its mind if it’s happy or sad – because of his ironic optimism during an unfaltering presentation of ideas. ‘Keep a Light On’ has some wonderful thoughts. “My head is on its way to where I left her on her own.” In this song, a growing sense of restlessness develops as he struggles with wanderlust and promise of new love - “Now I’m in my hotel with a bag upon my bed…” Like other songs on this CD, this one features an incredibly, well-paced story line. Not surprisingly, ‘To the Fire’ has received major airplay in the UK; it’s easy to see why. It is a psalm-saturated plea: “All around it looks like the world is dying tonight.” An old man is described elsewhere on it as “working his whole life and won’t be back there again…” It is a glorious testimonial to an often-unfair world. ‘Avalanche’ is solemn, simple and thought provoking. “I can’t stop thinking about her,” MacLennan saunters. This mesmerizing song drifts magically through a myriad of moods culminating in this infectious hook: “See how that snow slides?/Let’s just get lost inside…” ‘How Come’ is more prophetic. It is funk with a twist of desperation: “Got your foot in the door, but it closes anyway.” It is an especially nice canvas for a bold keyboard solo. ‘Wolves’ is immensely gripping, especially the spiraling coda. “They’re snapping at my heels, but I won’t let them bite,” he sings, with rugged gravitas. ‘The Fader’ is a timely, transitional song, a bit lighter in tempo, yet still powerful lyrically, though more orchestrated than the rest. ‘The Island’ is another ode to isolation with it lyrics of “To feel that silence when you went away, to be behind that closing door…” and “Oh, angels, won’t you sing to me, once more?” It is another classic, which explores a tableau of conflicting emotions. ‘The Island’ gathers strength by virtue of blistering guitar and MacLennan’s unparalleled, fantastic piano. ‘State of Affairs’ is another thinking man’s song. “Always fighting with a hole in the wall” it begins. His temper flares: “Fat cats running around in a Rolls Royce while you’re bleeding.” This exciting arrangement is in a constant state of unpredictable flux. It’s the tale of a high-wired, breadwinner perplexed by the sea of greed, which sadly surrounds him. ‘The Painter’ is as lovely as a Chopin ballad or a Renaissance portrait. The ambitious songwriter weaves the story of a struggling artisan paralysed by dashed hopes and infrequent glimmers of contentment. “The permanent observer” is how MacLennan describes his complex protagonist, but as we come to grips with the painter’s angst, the songwriter leavens the playing field with love: “I want to be the one she needs the most.” Spectacular keys, striking strings and a clear, humane motive are at the roots of this gorgeous, transformative composition. ‘The Old Tree’ closes the album. This is another delightfully, stripped down rendering, in which MacLennan unabashedly bares his soul for all to see, and what we see is a fiercely, talented wordsmith, seasoned piano man and old school composer. ‘Wolves’ is a marvel. It is not to be missed.

Track Listing:-

1 Fall Down On Me
2 Keep A Light On
3 To The Fire
4 Avalanche
5 How Come
6 Wolves
7 The Fader
8 The Island
9 State Of Affairs
10 The Painter
11 The Old Tree

Band Links:-

http://www.michaelmaclennan.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/michaelmaclennanartist
https://twitter.com/mmmaclennan
https://www.youtube.com/user/michaelmaclennan
https://plus.google.com/101849305377864842804

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