Release Date: January
3, 2017
Label: Riverwide Records
In my
estimation being a talented musician is a god given gift that needs to be
shared. And how lucky are we as music fans to be receiving that gift every day.
Well, that is if we choose to accept it daily. I certainly do and being one of
the more fortunate souls to have an abundance of it at my disposal, and quite a
variety no less.
So,
where am I going with this? It is artists like Vin Downes that can illustrate
the simplicities and complexities of one acoustic instrument in one track. He
does it consistently throughout except for “Dust and Drag” where he is
accompanied by the sound of Michael Manring’s bass. You know it is him as soon
as you hear it. And then there is “Streets of Sunday” where Tom Eaton joins in
on the piano.
It was
kismet that Vin ended up having the production team of Ackerman and Eaton on
his recording. The first time he heard the finger picking style on Ackerman’s
Windham Hill Records Sampler (which I used to discover new artists on all the
time), he put down the electric guitar. We all benefited from that decision.
After hearing When The Sea Lets Go it is quite likely you
will agree.
This
is scenic and deeply relaxing music that has a rhythmic flow and tone. It is a
solid and consistently strong release that puts the spotlight not only on the
creator but the style of guitar playing he presents. Vin Downes is a fine
representative of this genre of music and style. He has so much respect from
the music community and his peers that will be performing at the 2017 ZMR Music Award Concert in New
Orleans on May 13th. This is a well-deserved honor and validation of his talent
and presence he now commands in the recording industry.
Listening
to When The Sea Lets Go is all the
proof you will need however the accolades and honors will most certainly keep
coming for an innovative and technically astute musician such as Vin Downes.
This album is one example of many that you will hear in the years to come and I
am willing to bet they all will be progressively different.
4/5
Stars
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
February 8, 2017
Founder of:
Review
Provided By New Age Music Reviews
Tracks:
01. Entwined and Lost
02. Evening in Berkeley
03. Morning Red
04. Dust and Drag
05. Just Before You Go
06. Everything Ahead
07. When the Sea Lets Go
08. Streets of Sunday
09. The Right Words Are Simple
10. All You Left Behind
Tracks:
01. Entwined and Lost
02. Evening in Berkeley
03. Morning Red
04. Dust and Drag
05. Just Before You Go
06. Everything Ahead
07. When the Sea Lets Go
08. Streets of Sunday
09. The Right Words Are Simple
10. All You Left Behind
