Moody, hypnotic, yet somehow uplifting pop-rock.

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ROCK: Modern Rock, ROCK: Folk Rock



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The "singer-songwriter" moniker is used so frequently, it's too bad there isn't a better description for the musical pedigree of Mark Davis.

The singer, multi-instrumentalist and tunesmith is truly a master of his craft, having just released "immaculate," a stunning 10-song collection that combines a textured and melodic spirit with wide-ranging lyrical tales touching on the seemingly endless shadings that make up both the ordinary and profound parts of our far-flung lives.

From the adventurous spirit that drives one to leave home despite the pain of romance lost ("the wide atlantic") to a dark ode about the relationship between a child and father ("me and my old man"), Davis is able to strike home with a commanding blend of folk, rock and pop.

Davis' voice, like that of David Gray or Duncan Sheik, is a unique instrument full of emotional weight and sonic poetry, able to lift spirits even while supporting the weight of the world.

"immaculate," a strong follow-up to his 1995 debut, "you came screaming," (www.cdbaby.com/davismark2) was recorded and mastered by Matt Walin at Orange-based Bitemark Records.

"I've known Matt forever; he played some guitar on my first record," said Davis, noting how Walin's experience in the recording studio proved to be an even more instrumental role on "immaculate."

"I just think he is amazing," Davis added.

Because Davis paid for the cost of recording both CDs himself, he acknowledges a gap between the release of commercial recordings.

"I have a total backlog of music. Even a few of these recordings were tracked a few years ago," Davis said. While creative recording sessions were a hallmark of Davis' evolution between his first and second releases, equally important was Davis' decision to go on a three-week solo tour of Europe promoting "you came screaming."

Having always wanted to experience life outside of the United States, Davis later returned to spend most of 1997 and 1998 living near the city of Brest, France, playing in pubs, writing songs, learning French and writing a book. Over those two years, Davis would take two-week trips back to Orange County to record at Bitemark Studios in Orange, enlisting the help of Walin on keyboards and guitar, as well as bassist Al Wolovitch, drummer Monte McConnell, and guitarist Casey Dolan. Todd Compton (violin), Jennifer Corday (cello) and Erika Duke (cello) also played on the disc.

"This was definitely not a solo thing," Davis said of "immaculate." "This album was much more of a band effort. Casey was very involved (Dolan, Davis and Walin share equal producing credit)."