Ray LaMontagne: It’s in you where you’ll find kindness
Ray, Ray. Not the Ray as in everybody loves Raymond. But Ray as in Ray LaMontagne.
Do a google search for this guy and you will see some scruffy looking bloke sporting an unkempt beard. Buy this guys cd or legally download it and you’ll hear a whispery voice singing across a range of styles. This is a great album. Really it is.
The opening track, Be Here now kicks off a subtle accoustic guitar with a piano that sounds like raindrops slowly dropping through the window and then into your stomach as his voice kicks in. Then, follow that up with “Empty” which has that same gentle guitar but with some strings thrown in to increase its emotional resonance. The lyrics of Empty talk of stupidity and not realising what you have, with just a little bit of self indulgence thrown in for good measure.
You can Bring me flowers starts very similar to, “They did a bad bad thing”, from the Eyes Wide shut soundtrack. I say starts because Ray takes it to another level to make it sound like either a late night 60′s jazz film or perhaps a soundtrack song to some 60′s black detective show. He takes his voice down a sutble octave giving it such a sinister tone. Play that one loud.
Fave lyrics. Listen to Till the Sun turns black.
Did I mention its a great album? So…If you like whispery moody music like Nick Drake then Ray should be here to stay in your collection. Beard or no beard……..