Track 6 on Daniel Gannaway's album 'Summer Storm | a collection of ukulele ditties'.
Daniel Gannaway
SUMMER STORM | a collection of ukulele ditties
Written and recorded in Hawaii and New Zealand, Summer Storm -- Daniel's sixth solo outing -- references laidback island life with the ukulele's nylon strings, while wrapping it up in the kind of dynamic folk/indie-rock/ electronic feel that's been gradually evolving throughout the singer/songwriter's catalogue, particularly on the past two albums -- 2001's Bound and Suburban and darling one year, released end of last year.
"...A symbol of innocent merriment," as described in Paradise of the Pacific (1917), the ukulele epitomises Hawaiian lifestyle and the 'aloha' spirit. Popularised by the Waikiki Beachboys in the early part of last century, the ukulele had something of a heyday in the 1920s and '30s, when Hawaii was still a far off tropical island filled with mystery and romance. Though now firmly into the 21st century, this romance and mystery is captured beautifully on Summer Storm.
Recording for the first time without guitar, Daniel's lilt on the ukulele and his trademark evocative lyrical content creates a distinct and fully-formed sound which is a journey in itself. Mixing Hawaiian references throughout -- particularly in the environmental song No Mall At Sharks Cove, earlier released as an overnight recording in support of Friends of Sharks Cove (a Hawaiian Nonprofit Organization) -- with social observation and personal insight (tipping his hat to political writer/ filmmaker Michael Moore in the cynically stated A Just Senator), Daniel combines his eclectic influences to deliver an album of light, frangipani-laced airiness and incisive, resonating cultural insight.
Set against this background, Daniel has welcomed back his darling one year contributors, Michael Brennan (Phonoss/the Stung/kidameln/the Feds/7 dials) on bass and Stan Leboy (theNOWawol/kidameln) on drums/ keyboards & loops. Together, the trio has created a warm, optimistic and cohesive album. Further, with the release based around the uniquely evocative ukulele, Summer Storm is an album unlike anything you'd expect.
Summer Storm is a welcome new chapter in this talented singer-songwriter's ongoing story.
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Review of SUMMER STORM | a collection of ukulele ditties @ NZ Musician Magazine
Singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway shows the ukelele in an inspiring new light with his sixth solo outing. Written and recorded here and in Hawaii the eight tracks are a rewarding journey for a Sunday afternoon with their folk/indie-rock style, supported with delicate use of electronic synths and loops. The innocence and simplicity of the primary instrument, the ukelele, provides the distinct back-drop for the Hawaiian laid-back lifestyle and certainly creates that picture perfect aesthetic over the album. But within the evocative and convincing vocal delivery Gannaway will allow you to feel the Hawaiian sunshine or push you into darker personal, cultural and social insights with thought provoking vocal harmonies and melodies. The great aspect of the album is that each song's arrangement maintains a minimalistic nature, which shows a discipline and a depth of understanding on Gannaway's part. Underneath the ukelele, the cruising drums and harmonic supporting bass grooves provide an all around easy and easily recommendable listen.
Kent Walsdorf for NZ Musician Magazine
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