Michael Cameron's third album is something of a change from previous releases. After the fairly predictable soft-rock of its predecessor, Hard On Your Heels, this release takes a different tack, and under the production guidance of Peter Wilson (Booley House), Cameron has incorporated strings and a few electronics into his sound.
Cameron's voice is fairly soft with a strong Irish accent and tends towards the higher end of the male range. The sound along with it is generally somewhat relaxed--there is energy in the arrangements but no attempt is made to translate this into hard edges. The mixture of acoustic guitar, Susan Enan's string arrangements, and a range of other instruments suits the songs better than anything more aggressive would have done.
The range of other instruments varies quite widely. From tracks like "Tired and Weary," where the vocals are accompanied only by piano and cello, to "Anywhere," which supplements these with electric guitar, bass, drums, violins, keyboards, and a low whistle, the melodies are strongly emphasized throughout. These accompany songs aim to address a broad range of human experience.
"Don't Ask Me How," which was penned jointly by Cameron and his producer, speaks of the difficulty of making a commitment:
My intentions are good, but I can't follow through
Even with someone as perfect as you
Don't ask me how, I can't figure it out
If my heart's on my sleeve
Then my coat's inside out.
As a whole, the album is a significant step up from its predecessor and has a fairly contemporary feel in its use of programmed beats and melodic sensibilities. That does not automatically make it something that will be a hit with those interested in the alternative side of music, but this will certainly intrigue those who desire some progression in their pop.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Daren AllderThis is Irishman Michael Cameron's third album, following 1995's Healing Love and 1997's Hard On Your Heels, and as such it exudes confidence and maturity. Thankfully, this is balanced by a refreshing restraint and lightness of touch. Stylistically, the material is reminiscent of nothing so much as Deacon Blue. If you mourned the demise of that band, you should find plenty of comfort here. Many…
