BRIAN CAMPEAU – MOSTLY WINTER SOMETIMES SPRING

WARNING – This review contains material of a conceptual album nature, some readers may be reminded of the 70s.

On only his second full length album, Mr Brian Campeau – already bored with himself – has decided to challenge said self, and write and record each song on just one, lone instrument – “Campeau’s Challenge” as it were. Be it a delicious Cello here, a strummed Glockenspiel there, or a tossed harmonium anywhere. It is however unfair to paint a picture of a sparse, barren musical experience, for Mostly Winter Sometimes Spring is far from that. For each instrument offers not only melodic possibilities, but percussive tones, rhythmic beats; add to that Campeau’s extensive use of his voice as an instrument of some dexterity and the picture becomes fuller. Vocal comparisons to Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jeff Buckley are inevitable, as Campeau’s use of texture and tone as vocal tools takes what he has obviously learnt from these two artists and expands upon it – it is no coincidence that for the opening track Like This One the chosen instrument is the voice. Mostly Winter Sometimes Spring is a bold work, and although it never feels lacking for “Campeau’s Challenge”, one wonders if he has restricted himself a touch; while Who Cares works perfectly with a lone guitar the excellent Then Came the Sun feels like a song waiting to break out beyond its bounds. Glorious exploration nevertheless.

***1/2