 |
|
| No. | Artist | Song Name | Length | Price | |
| 1 | Daniel Gannaway |  Across the Sea |
02:28:00 | $0.99 |
|
| 2 | Daniel Gannaway | In Heaven |
02:56:00 | $0.99 |
|
| 3 | Daniel Gannaway | Doug's Little Love Shack |
02:35:00 | $0.99 |
|
| 4 | Daniel Gannaway | No Mall At Sharks Cove |
02:49:00 | $0.99 |
|
| 5 | Daniel Gannaway | Talking Story |
02:24:00 | $0.99 |
|
| 6 | Daniel Gannaway | Silver Lining |
03:01:00 | $0.99 |
|
| 7 | Daniel Gannaway | A Just Senator |
02:53:00 | $0.99 |
|
| 8 | Daniel Gannaway | Summer Storm |
03:19:00 | $0.99 |
|
browse more music | more from this artist
|
Description:
Daniel Gannaway
SUMMER STORM | a collection of ukulele ditties
Written and recorded in Hawaii and New Zealand, Summer Storm - Daniel's sixth solo outing - references laidback island life with the ukulele's nylon strings, while wrapping it up in the kind of dynamic folk/indie-rock/ electronic feel that's been gradually evolving throughout the singer/songwriter's catalogue, particularly on the past two albums - 2001's Bound and Suburban and darling one year, released end of last year.
"...A symbol of innocent merriment," as described in Paradise of the Pacific (1917), the ukulele epitomises Hawaiian lifestyle and the 'aloha' spirit. Popularised by the Waikiki Beachboys in the early part of last century, the ukulele had something of a heyday in the 1920s and '30s, when Hawaii was still a far off tropical island filled with mystery and romance. Though now firmly into the 21st century, this romance and mystery is captured beautifully on Summer Storm.
Recording for the first time without guitar, Daniel's lilt on the ukulele and his trademark evocative lyrical content creates a distinct and fully-formed sound which is a journey in itself. Mixing Hawaiian references throughout - particularly in the environmental song No Mall At Sharks Cove, earlier released as an overnight recording in support of Friends of Sharks Cove (a Hawaiian Nonprofit Organization) - with social observation and personal insight (tipping his hat to political writer/ filmmaker Michael Moore in the cynically stated A Just Senator), Daniel combines his eclectic influences to deliver an album of light, frangipani-laced airiness and incisive, resonating cultural insight.
Set against this background, Daniel has welcomed back his darling one year contributors, Michael Brennan (Phonoss/the Stung/kidameln/the Feds/7 dials) on bass and Stan Leboy (theNOWawol/kidameln) on drums/ keyboards & loops. Together, the trio has created a warm, optimistic and cohesive album. Further, with the release based around the uniquely evocative ukulele, Summer Storm is an album unlike anything you'd expect.
Summer Storm is a welcome new chapter in this talented singer-songwriter's ongoing story.
----------------------------------------------------------
Many times, an album has been sparked by an artist's discovery/rediscovery of a new or unusual instrument, and sometimes it's worked (Todd Rundgren's A Capella experiment of the human voice as every instrument) and just as many times it hasn't. This is one of those times where it really works. New Zealand-based indie rocker Daniel Gannaway constructed this somewhere-between-EP-and-LP-length collection on a simple premise: every song would feature the ukelele in some fashion. (Yes, you read right, the ukelele.) Recorded in NZ and Hawaii, Summer Storm takes that premise, and the instrument itself, through several permutations, and it all manages to work, largely thanks to Gannaway's reliable gifts in the songwriting department. Oddly enough, and this isn't a crack about originality or the lack thereof, the ukelele's role here reminded me of the shock value of the mandolin as a lead instrument in R.E.M.'s Losing My Religion. It's front and center on every song, though the tone of the songs shifts from light and breezy (Across The Sea, which reminded me curiously of early, pre-electric Split Enz) to more straight-ahead rock (Talking Story, which was the song that made me think of the Losing My Religion comparison in the first place), with stops at several stylistic destinations in between. Someone's clearly having fun putting the ukelele through its paces, though again, the songs are the key - they're all good enough on their own, unusual arrangements or not, to stand up. But any preconceptions you have about the ukelele in terms of strumming away at old tropical island tunes may not stand up after you hear this one - in a few places, it's some real rock 'n' roll. If you're in the mood for something different, this is some good stuff.
Reviewed by Earl Green
theLogBook
----------------------------------------------------------
Singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway shows the ukelele in an inspiring new light with his sixth solo outing. Written and recorded here and in Hawaii the eight tracks are a rewarding journey for a Sunday afternoon with their folk/indie-rock style, supported with delicate use of electronic synths and loops. The innocence and simplicity of the primary instrument, the ukelele, provides the distinct back-drop for the Hawaiian laid-back lifestyle and certainly creates that picture perfect aesthetic over the album. But within the evocative and convincing vocal delivery Gannaway will allow you to feel the Hawaiian sunshine or push you into darker personal, cultural and social insights with thought provoking vocal harmonies and melodies. The great aspect of the album is that each song's arrangement maintains a minimalistic nature, which shows a discipline and a depth of understanding on Gannaway's part. Underneath the ukelele, the cruising drums and harmonic supporting bass grooves provide an all around easy and easily recommendable listen.
Reviewed by Kent Walsdorf
NZ Musician Magazine
----------------------------------------------------------
Daniel Gannaway makes pretty and beguiling music comprised of ukulele playing and other more ambient elements. It is also subtly political at the same time. If you listen to tracks like “No Mall At Sharks Cove,” for instance, which rails against the proliferation of McDonald’s restaurants, mini-malls and the like, it’s obvious that Gannaway is angered over the way places of scenic beauty are often spoiled by a quest for the almighty dollar.
It’s impossible to neatly categorize Gannaway’s music. The title track, for instance, begins with a kind of Chinese music feel to it, whereas “A Just Senator” is slightly jazzy. Most all of these tracks include the severely underused ukulele, as well. Gannaway sings with a clear vocal tone, although he sounds ragged and drowsy during “Silver Lining.” It’s nearly impossible to tell that he’s a New Zealander. At least until the way he pronounces the word “heaven” on “In Heaven” gives his roots away.
Much like Gannaway’s home country, this music is an exotic, faraway place in relationship to the rest of the overall modern musical landscape. Nevertheless, these unique Gannaway sounds offer a pleasant getaway.
Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh
Indie Music
----------------------------------------------------------
It's nice, during Splendid's final days, to review the sort of record whose appearance on these pages really differentiates this site from other music-reviewing sites. New Zealand-based singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway is the sort of guy that readers outside of New Zealand have probably never heard of -- unless they read Splendid.
Summer Storm is, as its subtitle suggests, an album built upon the small, frequently tinny, altogether unassuming sounds that Gannaway can choke out of a ukulele. His interest in the instrument will inevitably lead listeners to compare his work to that of Stephin Merritt, whose love for the uke has made it a mainstay of Magnetic Fields and 6ths albums for more than a decade. However, the two artists' use of the instrument couldn't be more different. Merritt tends to bring on the ukes for songs that need to sound quiet, resigned and sad, or tracks that should sound whimsical and bouncy. Gannaway's ambition for the tiny, four-stringed guitar is far grander -- it's the central instrument on every track, expressing sarcastically delivered outrage ("A Just Senator") and moody, Mark Eitzel-style happy-sadness ("Summer Storm"). It holds its ground amid drum-tracking, piano plinking and bass guitar throbbing ("In Heaven"). Of course, Gannaway also uses it in more traditionally ukulele-friendly contexts -- whistles-and-hopefulness opener "Across The Sea", for example -- and in spite of his ambition, these are some of Summer's strongest efforts. "Across The Sea", in fact, only stumbles when the chorus intrudes with a too-heavy keyboard line and an inexplicable time-signature/key change.
Gannaway's songs are generally well-written and entertaining, and he seems to have approached the album's ukulele focus as a framing restriction, rather as a poet will adopt a classic poem form in order deliberately to give focus and structure to his work. As a result, Summer Storm is an intriguing outing, neither overly precious nor excessively novelty-oriented.
Reviewed by Brett McCallon
Splendid Magazine
----------------------------------------------------------
Albums by kiwi [NZ] indie singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway:
----------------------------------------------------------
2006 - OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political
2005 - SUMMER STORM | A collection of ukulele ditties
2004 - darling one year
2002 - BOOTLEGGED AT THE 12 BAR CLUB [released 2006]
2001 - Bound and Suburban
2000 - Bootlegged at the Temple
1999 - flashback*
1998 - FINE BY ME
http://www.cdbaby.com/all/danielgannaway
----------------------------------------------------------
More truly independent releases:
----------------------------------------------------------
2006 - ELECPHONIC
2004 - kidameln - the kidameln lo-fi
http://www.cdbaby.com/group/trulyindependent
----------------------------------------------------------
truly independent has kidameln's debut & Daniel's first 3 albums in the CD Baby $5 Specials!
This means that if you buy these four albums [the kidameln lo-fi, FINE BY ME, flashback* & Bootlegged at the Temple] together in one purchase, the price per album will drop to $5. You'll get all 4 for only $20!!!
These albums contain classic Daniel Gannaway songs like Sarah, Daisy, Zebra Crossing, Rest, Midnight's Gone, Avenues, Your Winning Way, A French Girl, and kidameln classics like 'I'm in', 'See me smiling' Hey ho' & Circles, just to name a few...
As always, thank you for supporting truly independent music.
http://www.cdbaby.com/group/trulyindependent
----------------------------------------------------------
truly independent recommends a newly recovered live gem of Daniel:
BOOTLEGGED AT THE 12 BAR CLUB
[11 Songs - Solo Acoustic - London - April 2002]
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway8
Recorded live in an intimate little venue in the centre of London – the 12 Bar Club – Daniel’s vocal range and delicate guitar, sometimes complimented by harmonica, are collected surprisingly well and make for a beautifully meandering compilation.
----------------------------------------------------------
Daniel's latest album:
OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway7
"Documenting many of Daniel's previously unrecorded songs of environmental, social and political importance, OP-ED is an inspired compilation of acoustic material on guitar and ukulele - all recorded in Hawaii during February of 2006."
----------------------------------------------------------
truly independent recommends Daniels popular ukulele album:
SUMMER STORM | A collection of ukulele ditties
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway6
"Written and recorded in Hawaii and New Zealand, Summer Storm - Daniel's sixth solo outing - references laidback island life with the ukulele's nylon strings, while wrapping it up in the kind of dynamic folk/indie-rock/electronic feel..."
"...like Gannaway's home country, this music [SUMMER STORM] is an exotic, faraway place in relationship to the rest of the overall modern musical landscape. Nevertheless, these unique Gannaway sounds offer a pleasant getaway" - Indie-Music.
"...The great aspect of the album [SUMMER STORM] is that each song's arrangement maintains a minimalistic nature, which shows a discipline and a depth of understanding on Gannaway's part. Underneath the ukelele, the cruising drums and harmonic supporting bass grooves provide an all around easy and easily recommendable listen..." - NZ Musician Magazine
----------------------------------------------------------
Also highly recommended: darling one year
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway5
"...A perfect blend of lyrics, emotion and rhythm...If your looking for some refreshing new music for the soul, I whole-heartedly recommend darling one year as a must have for your collection." - AllAboutSurf.com
"...Down to earth and laid back, it has none of the musical tension of trying too hard or the injection of false emotions. Suburban folky and bohemian chic, it [darling one year] ties up agreeably layered and distorted vocals into an angst-ridden, quirky pop as catchy as The Strokes but easily as mysteriously engaging as James Keenan Maynard..." - Indie-Music.com
----------------------------------------------------------
Daniel's music is available from such online digital providers as:
http://www.Mp3tunes.com/DanielGannaway
AudioLunchbox; Apple iTunes Music Store; Rhapsody; Napster; BuyMusic; Emusic; Sony Connect...
----------------------------------------------------------
CafePress Stores Now Open!
http://www.cafepress.com/danielgannaway
http://www.cafepress.com/kidameln
http://www.cafepress.com/trulyindie
----------------------------------------------------------
Lyrics to songs on 'SUMMER STORM' below.
----------------------------------------------------------
Track 01 - Across the sea
Oh my love
You're so far away
Waiting in those islands
Across the sea
I can't wait
I can't wait
To see you my love once more
To see you my love once more
To see you my love once more
To see your happy face
Loving embrace
You're in my arms again
Oh my love
You're so far away
I'll soon make that journey
Across the sea
I can't wait
I can't wait
To see you my love once more
To see you my love once more
To see you my love once more
To see your happy face loving embrace
You're in my arms again
So I'm singing this song to close the distance
So I'm singing this song to close the distance
So I'm singing this song to close the distance
Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005
----------------------------------------------------------
Track 02 - In heaven
In heaven
It rained all night the paths afloat
In heaven
Palm fronds fell that wind so strong
In heaven
Outer reefs broke that giant surf
In heaven
Center of the storm the lagoon was calm
In heaven
In heaven
In heaven
Razorbacks plunge that windward edge
In heaven
A sea haze lifts over valleys and cliffs
In heaven
In heaven
In heaven
In heaven
In heaven
Red dirt stains all manner of things
In heaven
The trades resume and the sun will soon
Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005
----------------------------------------------------------
Track 03 - Doug's little love shack
Doug's little love shack on the North Shore
Made for one to have fun there's room for one more
A short walk to Pipeline watch the surfers ride
Their skill and their daring is a dream for you and I
At Doug's little love shack
At Doug's little love shack
Love shack
Love shack
At Doug's little love shack on the North Shore
When the giant swells break you really hear them roar
The ground shakes the trees sway the coconuts fall
Whitewater on the beach path will wake you if you snore
At Doug's little love shack
At Doug's little love shack
Love shack
Love shack
Shack of love
At Doug's little love shack on the North Shore
There's so much aloha you'll stay forever more
But if you start a family you'll have to add a room
Doug's little love shack's made for one plus you
Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005
----------------------------------------------------------
Track 04 - No mall at Sharks Cove
Give them an inch and
Well they'll take a mile
Turn a cinema into McDonalds
Say 'Oh how did that happen last night?'
Now say hello to McRonald
If we want country
Let's keep it country
If we want town
Let's go to town
We don't need any mall in Sharks Cove
We've already got enough of them sharks around
Swimming around
They'll ask twice as much so
They get just what they want
When we compromise
Let them make a start
Soon more buildings
Will be popping up
'Till we won't recognise country
And we wish they'd stop
If we want country
Let's keep it country
If we want town
Let's go to town
We don't need any mall in Sharks Cove
We've already got enough of them sharks around
Swimming around
Developing it up like hell
Like Hell
If we really need to go Oahu's got Costco
Ala Moana in Honolulu
Do we really need more parking lots in paradise?
We want real progress then let's preserve this place
If we want country, let's keep it country
If we want town, let's go to town
We don't need any mall in Sharks Cove
We've already got enough of them sharks around
Swimming around
Swimming around
Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005
----------------------------------------------------------
Track 05 - Talking story
Sunny days we're all hanging out
The wireless gets the news around
I heard this but you heard it like that
A ninth hand version so let's add our own twist to it
Pretty soon
All of us we're talking story
Recounting with updated theory
Animating all the glory
Giving us more than story
Sunny days we're all hanging out
Remembering what being young was like
Some things just get better with age
Some are better read from memory's page
Pretty soon
All of us we're talking story
Recounting with updated theory
Animating all the glory
Giving us more than story
More than story
Talking story
Sunny days we're all hanging out
Exchanging views on what life is about
Maybe there's nothig more to it
Than taking time to share for enrichment
Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005
----------------------------------------------------------
Track 06 - Silver lining
You're floating off up into the sky
You're now looking for that silver lining
You're floating off up into the sky
You're now looking for that silver lining
I think you've found it
You're floating beyond my reach of site
I can see a hint of silver in the light
You're floating beyond my reach of site
I can see a hint of silver in the light
I think you've found it
I think that you've found your silver lining
I think you've found it
Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005
----------------------------------------------------------
Track 07 - A just senator
You're a just senator
Hypocrisy is not your fare
You're sending your children off to war
Just like those of the middle class and those of the poor
You agree with this it's democratic and fair
Your children proudly serving over there
You're a just senator
Hypocrisy is not your fare
You're sending your children off to war
Just like those of the middle class and those of the poor
You serve the government but as a parent you care
That they don't die for lies while they're over there
You're a just senator
Hypocrisy is not your fare
Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005
----------------------------------------------------------
Track 08 - Summer storm
Summer storm on the horizon
Rolling in across the ocean
I see that rainbow bringing pennies from heaven
So here we stand on the edge of the land
Watching earth move while holding hands
I see that rainbow bringing pennies from heaven
Pennies falling raining on the ground
I'm so happy that I'm here with you now
Make a wish
Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005
----------------------------------------------------------
browse more music | more from this artist
