MP3 Michael Dyer - Aboriginal Angel

Songs for the psyche: emotional, poetic, mystical-sounding alternative folk-rock songs with dual lead guitars, complex finger-picking, bass riffs and haunting keyboard.

11 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Acoustic, ROCK: Folk Rock



Details:
âAboriginal Angelâ is Michael Dyerâs third CD (his first and second CDs were: âNothing Seems Like What It Seemsâ and âOur Unwinding Timeâ) and like those other CDs, it is an accomplished musical and lyrical work. The first song on the CD, âAll Reversedâ, contains some reversed vocals and reversed lead guitar music, all harmonically intertwined with the forward music. The lyrics are haunting (e.g. â⦠All the practiced are, now unrehearsed. All the blessed are, now so cursed. All those floating are, now immersed. All the healthy must, now be nursedâ¦â) and the vocal harmonies are musically very interesting and enjoyable.

The âAboriginal Angelâ song is fascinating in a number of ways. First, it tells a story of a man falling in love with an aboriginal angel who âplays rock ânâ blues on two didgeridoosâ and second, it is a rare instance of a folk rock song in which the didgeridoo (an ancient Australian percussion instrument) is played as a lead instrument opposite a lead guitar. The result should appeal to any didgeridoo fan and hopefully will make others aware of the potential of this instrument as more than merely a background sound.

In addition to playing the didgeridoo and lead guitar, Dyer is also very skillful at finger-picking. I particularly like the picking pattern/rhythm in âItâs Your Soul, Oh Margotâ .

The song âSo Imminentâ reminds one a little bit of Santana, with its Caribbean-style beat. The lead flute is excellent. (It is actually Dyer playing keyboard synthesizer with a synthesized flute effect.) The lyrics are wonderful (e.g. â⦠Thereâs nothing that you need to recant. Youâre in me now like a heart implant. My heart beats just for your special essence, oh, for your wild luminescenceâ¦â).

I very much like the lead guitar riffs in âAs You Lay Downâ which is a very romantic song, also with wonderful lyrics (e.g. âAs you lay down, among the flowering, itâs a vision, so overpowering. And I see red-violet skies, reflected, in your eyes. The mist, on your bare skin, is a view of heaven. And I wonder, oh wonder, why destiny, has brought me a being, so lovelyâ¦.â).

âWhatâs the Right Avenue?â shows off Dyerâs vocal abilities. As the lyrics describe alternative strategies for approaching the object of his desire, his voice takes on different tonal qualities.

âYour Gotta Weepâ is the longest song and is so full of driving lyrics that it reminds one of Bob Dylan, except that, here, the pace is faster, with very fast guitar riffs.

Many of Dyerâs songs have experimental elements but never cross the line of losing their enveloping musical and lyrical beauty just to achieve a goal of experimentation for its own sake. Each song that stretches the envelope does so only because it is in service of the theme of that song. For example, guitar, drum and bass music only go backwards in âAll Reversedâ because the song is about things becoming reversed. The didgeridoo plays lead in âAboriginal Angelâ only because the song is about a song character who plays the didgeridoo. Dyerâs voice changes throughout âWhatâs the Right Avenue?â only because the songâs lyrics are discussing different ways of wooing someone.

The song âWipe off the Dustâ is slowly paced and yet suspenseful. In that song the main character tosses his ex-loveâs ring into a pond, then tosses her letters into the gutter, then tosses her photos into a fire, and then tosses their child into the air⦠Youâll have to listen to the song to find out what happens, or you can access all lyrics at his web site: MichaelDyerMusic.com.

Some of his songs, such as âDidnât Have a Clueâ are so sing-along-able that they could easily be classified more as pop rock than folk rock, but all have well-defined bass and lead guitar themes, and many have rich vocal harmonies, in which Dyer harmonizes with himself. As in his previous CDs, all instruments and vocals are performed by Dyer, who writes and arranges all of his own lyrics and music. This third CD is a very welcome addition to an already strong collection of songs.

What listeners have said about Michael Dyerâs prior songs:

"â¦Absolutely amazing!... Michael.... you are the most amazing of all. I love your songs. I love your lyrics even moreâ¦"

"â¦Michael. I just love your voice.....it is almost haunting, in that it fills you up, and yet you just want more. I love the guitarâ¦"

"â¦Your music is very personal and emotional which is two strong qualities to have. I also like music that makes you want to sing along and that you find yourself humming even when you are not listening to it."

"â¦Your depth of emotion, and reaching so deeply into the soul....being able to express what we feel, but can't express.....that's what you do so well⦠your voice is one of mellowness, soothing, trustfulness, warmth, feeling inside the heart and body.......strumming the inner soul with your words and voice...."

"â¦Your guitar sounds great !!!... musicianship is excellentâ¦"