There are countless songs about heartbreak, so it is quite a challenge to come up with something memorable. Alt-folk artist Jonathan Brown is one of those rare artists who have found new ways to write about it. On Fire Place, the latest album by his Dusty Stray project, he goes through all the stages of grief, realizing that his love is not that Special and that he does not want to be with her Anymore, but also compiling Lists with the things he liked about her. She started drifting away and he is left to his own devices, collecting his thoughts staring at the Fire Place - the heat offers a bit of comfort. And while he sure as Hell wants to be Loved again and getting into a fulfilling relationship again, he is not that desperate that will try anything. After all, Happiness Strikes when you are not expecting it.
Brown's superb way with words are emboldened by a subtle, mostly acoustic band. Five years have gone by since the release of his previous album Estranged - which also was about the matters of the heart. With Fire Place he tapped into the same source, but now that he is getting older he looks to future with a bit more confidence as he has realized that being with someone might not be the be-all and end-all for him, at least for now.
Jonathan Brown: vocals, guitar, ukulele, oud
Stuart Cullen: additional guitars, programming, banjo,
keys, additional vocals
Mario Ramirez: bass, percussion
Maruja Bobo Remijn: violin
Jesje de Schepper: back vocals on "Cry A Little Softer"
Dorien, Nina and Maruja: voices on "Vivian"
Fire Place is released on via Great Waters (200 hand-signed LPs, digital).
Tracks:- Loved
- Anymore
- Lists
- Fireplace
- Change Me
- I Thought About You
- Vivian
- Special
- Happiness Strikes
- Gray Again
- Cry A Little Softer
- Inside
- 04/16 De Nieuwe Anita, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 05/10 Witte Kerkje, Holysloot, Netherlands
- 05/12 Taverne De Waag, Haarlem, Netherlands
- 06/07 The Taphouse Wimborne (3:00 p.m.), Wimborne Minster, UK
- 06/07 The White Hart (6:00 p.m.), Wimborne Minster, UK
- 06/09 The Rising Sun, Wimborne Minster, UK
- 06/15 Op De T么ffel Festival, Vierlingsbeek, Netherlands
HCTF review of Estranged.