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Allen Clapp<\/strong> is not British. But you’ll be forgiven for thinking he is when you listen to the new EP Dawn of the Fairwood Singers<\/em>. The three-song release boasts a sound that evokes the breezy, pastoral sounds of late 60s and early 70s soft (but not lame!) rock.<\/p>\n The cover artwork offers an ideal shorthand for the music contained therein: a line drawing (or woodcut, or something like that) of a stylized sun is set against a moody, dark blue-grey background. The shimmering music inside is joyful and melancholy all at once. Clapp describes the project’s sound as “melancholic popsong,” and that just about nails it.<\/p>\n “September Sun” is short on lyrics, but certainly that’s Clapp’s intention; he’s a deft and expressive lyricist. The approach is more to deliver the lyrics in a hypnotic, mantra-like fashion, and the song is wholly effective at achieving that sort of vibe. The song builds from a simple arrangement into something more developed. There are hints of the Left Banke<\/strong>, the Association<\/strong> and even Alan Parsons Project<\/strong>, but — like Clapp’s main project the Orange Peels<\/a><\/strong>, the Fairwood Singers aren’t overly evocative of anyone else. Lovely piano figures and acoustic guitar are balanced with (relatively) grittier sounds of Mellotron and clanking snare drum. This one’s a dreamy, soft wad of ear candy.<\/p>\n “Weather Charts” is some sort of cross between Pilot<\/strong> and Third\/Sister Lovers<\/em> era Big Star<\/a><\/strong>, updated for the 21st century (and devoid of Alex Chilton<\/a><\/strong>-styled angst and confusion). Again piano and Mellotron are the central instruments; it’s an impossibly lovely melody. The vaguely sad and wistful arrangement has its sweetness leavened by subtle addition of just a bit of distorted guitar. The only thing wrong with the track is that it’s over too soon.<\/p>\n Even if the song wasn’t a thing of beauty, “I Thought I Heard the Answer in a Song” would score on the strength of its title alone. But no: the song boasts a yearning, expansive arrangement. Old-school production flourishes (like hard-panning of certain instruments) are evident on the song. The vocals — overdubbed an indeterminate number of time to glorious effect — are pushed way-forward in the mix. But it too — like the entire EP — ends long before the listener is done with it.<\/p>\n There’s a lonely place on the rock landscape: it’s that place occupied by sturdy, well-written, expertly-executed songs that don’t exactly rock. Allen Clapp’s Dawn of the Fairwood Singers<\/em> makes a trip to that place a worthwhile excursion.<\/p>\n
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