This is the third album from Birmingham based singer/songwriter David Garside, and for those of you interested in purity of sound, his first to be issued on vinyl. Garside’s bio states the following:

“It can be difficult in 2009 to make yourself heard above the noise, and it’s never been David’s style to fight his way to the front with brash sonics or fashion statements. His palette is  ‘traditional’- acoustic picking, piano, bass, vibes, jazz-inlected drums, elegant chamber strings and crisp soul-style horns. All tastefully and beautifully arranged. His innovation instead is to create  a world through his melodies and chord patters, his gently unfolding song structures, and his consistenly engaging lyrical turn of phrase - without there ever being anything ostentatious about his music. Neverthe less every song is very much his; there is subtle mood which infuses everything which could only be David Garside…”

The reason for me quoting the above is that in my experience rarely does the written and reality match. But after listening to the album several times I feel that it is an honest description of the man and his music. MODERN MEDIAEVAL is being released into one of the music’s best, and most competitive release  years ever, and into a marketplace now heavily populated with singer/songwriters of every hue. It’s therefore important for Garside with this album to stake out his own territory, in fact more important than ever. And I think he has…

‘Be My Signpost’ is an early indication of this with its gently wandering folk-pop vibe, strong melody, simple but effective lyrics, stripped down instrumental arrangement and a voice that’s both fragile and expressive. It also includes quite complex changes of pace where emphasis is placed on the slower moving passages. It’s a simple, charming song. ‘Don’t Be Scared’ goes uptempo with greater pop sensability. It’s a light, optimistic ballad where piano is used extensively while the vocal reminds me of a combination of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith. ‘Mr Wise’ slows to contemplative mode with a vocal that is a tad more adventurous and a Latin/jazz vibe underpinned by another tangible melody. ‘Soulful Numbers’ meanders along with strong choruses punctuating
another sweet ballad. Bold brass features in the jaunty ‘We Share The Same Space’ while strings make their debut in the Beatle-esque and pretty ‘Code Blue’ - one of the album’s standout tracks.

‘Glimpses’ has a gentle piano opening to a song that suddenly bursts into life before throttling back to reveal a whisper-quiet extended passage before it takes off again with brass leading the charge. ‘The Happy Gang’ offers a more jagged rhythmic ambience and changes of pace that are characteristic of this album. ‘Cupid Boy’ moves at snail’s pace, is one of the most moving songs here, and another standout. Finally ‘Modern Mediaeval’ completes the package with arguably the most ‘modern’ song on the album with its powerful melody and more adventurous instrumental arrangement.

This is an album that requires several plays to ‘get it.’ Garside has a distinctive performing and producing style that allows his songs to shine through, and no doubt will attract those punters who prefer the simpler music life.

3.5/5