Constant Companion [Import]

Its the season of melancholy, a time of dark nights nights and winter chill, the proper time to reflect on the human condition and Doug Paisley is here to assist you with that task. "Constant Companion" is the second album from the Toronto based singer songwriter and he has had the good sense in addition to bring in a cast of top notch musical collaborators such as Garth Hudson of The Band, Basil Donavon of Blue Rodeo, and the wonderful Canadian chanteuse Leslie Feist. Mojo argues that "Paisley's perspective is that of the Canadian outsider, seeing America anew whilst being fully immersed in its history and myths". There clearly is something to this as Canadians seem able to incorporate a sense of distance and to be able to strips the leaves from the North American tree and examine its roots with more critical care.

Check out post haste the lovely duet "Dont make me wait" with Leslie Feist which harks back to simpler times and we may have found the new Neil Young and Joni Mitchell for the Twitter generation who nail this beautiful love lament. "What I saw" shows that Paisley has listened very carefully to "Harvest Moon" but in a respectful as opposed to copyist mode. It rolls alongs wonderfully and is a great soundtrack for sitting back and doing nothing at all. "End of the day" settles into this groove and has a warm vocal by Paisley which is supplemented by a trademark Garth Hudson organ solo. "Bluebird" adds more bite and evokes the great Will Oldham and the mood he captured on 2010 Cairo Gang collaboration. The wondrously melodic opener "No one but you" is more up tempo, while the long closer "Come here and love me" places him firmly in the ranks of great new emerging songwriters with a heartbreak love song that is probably the albums highlight.

Perhaps on times this album is a bit too comfortable and you sometimes long for a harder edge and some more grit. Paisley's purpose however is evoke a mood of quiet reflection and overall he succeeds well in his ruminations.

First, I have to thank MOJO magazine for making me aware of this album. Unlike many other modern albums, this has simple acoustic arrangements that don't get in the way of the songs. There is a country influence, but it is subtle. Doug gets his message across without any trouble at all.

The last song on it, Come Here My Love, has to be one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Not only is the melody simple but affecting, so are the lyrics, the last line being 'so go to sleep my love, beside me'. I like about half of the songs, but the ones I love make up for the rest. I am just about to buy his other album and EP, as I feel I need to hear them - I suppose that shows how highly I regard what he does. If you like good strong unpretentious music, buy this album.

Brilliant album, slow moving Country/folk gems. It sounds like a great lost album from one of the 1970s greatest singer/songwriters. Is's pure and as i said a GEM!