Album Review

Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards – Distance

• 18th Aug 2014

There are real similarities between Distance and Dan Michaelson’s 2013 release Blindspot. Both have eight tracks, both come in at around half an hour of intense music, and both are damned good albums. There is a depth and a profound beauty to his tales of loss and heartbreak, delivered in a baritone voice so deep and resonant that it rumbles.

Dan Michaelson was previously lead singer of alt rockers Absentee, who released three albums between 2004 and 2008. This is now his fifth album since and he has recruited a whole new cast of supporting characters, with input from The Magic Numbers’ Romeo Stodart (bass), Henry Spenner (drums), Laurie Earle (guitar and piano), Horse (guitar and pedal steel), Nightworks/ Metronomy’s Gabriel Stebbing (cello) and Johnny Flynn (violin).

There is a beautiful sparseness to much of the music on Distance, its slow pace giving space for that expressive voice to tell its tales. But the touches of pedal steel, the piano melodies and the texture of the cello add much to the overall effect. Michaelson doesn’t usually overcomplicate things, and it works well for him.

Evergreen and Bones open the album in typical fashion with slow songs full of emotion and the hurt is almost palpable. The mid tempo Burning Hearts, the album’s first single, almost feels like a full out rocker by comparison and it doesn’t work as well. Michaelson’s voice has a narrow natural range and it simply doesn’t stretch well. Every Step is similar, although the smoother vocal style here gives a more pleasing effect.

Getting It All Wrong is a return to the slow songs of heartbreak, a steady bass line and a tender piano melody backing the vocals in a relationship song that evokes real pain. Evening Light again has the lovely contrast of deep vocals and sweet pedal steel in a love song that grows and swells to a superb ending. Your Beauty Still Rules could be the ultimate breakup track, the sense of loss eloquently displayed with tremendous emotion. Somewhere is another profound expression of love sung quite beautifully. Concluding with an untypically long instrumental section, it closes things in real style.

Dan Michaelson has again produced an album with stylish and passionate lyrics delivered superbly and matched with some fine musical backing. The formula clearly works well for him, and long may it continue.

Venue: Distance
Support Band: The State51 Conspiracy