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Posted by Joseph Bridges on Thursday, March 26, 2009
Under: Reviews
Artist: Andrew Lipke
Title: Motherpearl and Dynamite
Label: Mad Dragon Records
Genre: Rock/Pop
Born in South Africa, Andrew Lipke showed his musical talent early in life and when he moved to the United States in the mid-80’s he decided to pick up a guitar and join the American tradition of the singer-songwriter. Since then he has been releasing music in his eclectic vision and now he is treating us with his nine song collection Motherpearl and Dynamite.
The simplicity of a man and his words are present from the first notes of “On My Ways.” Lipke lists John Denver among other artist as an influence and those influences are seen clearly in the structures of the album, but he does flash a bit his eclecticism throughout with pop sensibilities. Lipke does imagine himself a modern day lover of the zenith days of Neil Young as he croons on his county ballad “Forgive and Forget” and even manages a great cover of Young’s “After the Gold Rush.” The sounds of each song do not make for memorable songs but the lyrical prowess of Lipke show themselves time and time again.
These nine tracks and forty-one minutes of Lipke and his band The Prospects hearken back to a seventies mold of the easy listening set that were troubadours across the United States. It is unfortunate those days are over when you could sit on your front porch with lemonade and celebrate the smaller things of life. Instead the crowds demand a bigger and more complex sound to digest with their road trips on spring break. Now Lipke brings his best to the table and Motherpearl and Dynamite is a new sound for an old crowd. www.andrewlipke.com
