Following his time fronting alt-rock outfit Fossway, Daniel Mason returns with a self-produced solo EP, This Ain’t No Tv Drama, that leans into rich chord progressions, layered vocal harmonies and a quietly quirky pop sensibility.
The EP takes you on a sonic voyage from the jazzy live lounge feel of We All Need A Break, through the shuffling, piano-driven barroom swing of God Is An American, to the dreamy, psych-tinged drift of Riding On A Raincloud. Inspired by The Beach Boys, Neil Young, Steely Dan and echoes of The Beatles, Elvis Costello, Jeff Lynne and Del Amitri surface throughout, but Daniel’s distinctive vocal style and crisp, spacious production tie it all together into a cohesive, engaging listen.
Here, Daniel lets us know what his perfect gig would look like…
Location: Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago
The contrast between the green utopia that is Millennium park and the imposing skyscraper landscape of downtown Chicago is a very thrilling place to be on any occasion, let alone a musical one. And then you have the Jay Pritzker Pavilion auditorium plonked right in the centre of it all. When one thinks of American cities, the soundtrack one would imagine up would no doubt consist of classic hip-hop anthems and jazz standards. But to add to the contrasts, the auditorium mainly stages classical concerts. On the night I was there the programme consisted of The Water Goblin, a tone poem by Czech composer Dvorak followed by Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. Not very American then… There is something quite wonderful about being serenaded by an orchestra playing European classical music slap-bang in the middle of an American metropolis.
First act:
I have had a huge love for classical music for a good few years now, and my close friends and family have often fallen victim to my hyper-enthusiastic ramblings on my favourite composers and pieces. Beethoven for me is the one composer that every person on earth could name a piece by or hum a melody from one of his works. There is just an endless wealth of humanity in this music. So for the opening act of my event I would have the Vienna Philharmonic (sorry, Chicago Symphony) performing the first movement of Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony, music that starts and ends with a bang, a perfect attention-grabber for my dream show.
Second act:
The Vienna Philharmonic can stay in their seats. For the 2nd act I would bring on Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys, who himself had a love for classical music, a fact that is more than evident in the lavish orchestral arrangements that adorn his own sun-drenched compositions. He called the Beach Boys’ legendary unreleased album Smile his ’Teenage Symphony to God’. With help from the world-class orchestra already on stage, as well as his own band of dedicated players, Brian will perform his masterpiece Pet Sounds in it’s entirety. The highlights would no doubt be Don’t Talk Put Your Head On My Shoulder and God Only knows, two of the finest examples on that record that showcase Wilson’s talent in arranging for string ensemble.
Third act:
I have often dreamed of this scenario: driving through the streets of New York in an old Cadillac, with a hip-flask of whiskey in the drink holder (and being over the limit isn’t a thing..) ,and currently playing through the speakers is Deacon Blues by Steely Dan. By this time in my concert it will no doubt be dark, which will really set the ambience for the Dan’s set, as they sing songs such as Don’t Take Me Alive and Doctor Wu along with other tales of burnt-out individuals, lost in the urban underworld, which is exactly how I feel as I witness my dream concert.
