Berlin – Chris Marshall and The August Light’s new LP is out and it’s a welcome expansion of their previous work.
Traditionally, Seattle has been known as the place on the West Coast to find the best emerging musical acts. But over the last few years, Portland has made its name as another city to watch for up and coming acts. This week, the dream became reality for fans of the Portland based Chris Marshall and The August Light when the band released their latest CD, Some Kind of Dream. In their new LP, the band veers from the Americana sound they’re known for and expands upon it.
Some Kind of Dream sets out to prove that singer-songwriter Chris Marshall is capable of much more than the sound he’s known for. The album delves into rock and folk music which is complemented by heartfelt and deep lyrical content. Throughout the album, Marshall chronicles his life in a way that is introspective yet transparent. He is unafraid to address issues that many would shun.
Produced by Patti King, Some Kind of Dream makes a bold decision to step outside the box in terms of genre. In doing so, it proves that Chris Marshall and The August Light have the chops to delve into any musical element and emerge triumphant. In this album, Marshall’s early influences – Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley – are clearly evident. They mesh well within the framework of the songs on the album. Trip hop comes to the forefront with the track ‘These Days’, which is heavy with emotional sentiment. Then, ‘Castle’ goes left of the middle with a hip hop element that will surprise even the band’s most hardcore fans. Folk fans can take heart as ‘Break Bread’ shows the band in a more familiar light. But one of the most emotional tracks by far – and one of Some Kind of Dream’s standouts – is the brilliantly arranged musical homage to Chris Marshall’s grandfather, ‘Go Straight Home’. These tracks on the album illustrate that the band is not to be pigeonholed into one specific genre and are likely to attract a new legion of fans when this album drops.
Chris Marshall and The August Light have an upcoming tour slated in support of their new release. You can stay abreast of the band’s itinerary via their Website, Facebook and Twitter.
Triston Brewer
artist, writer, event organizer, and promoter. As a
freelance journalist, he has covered both the underground and
mainstream aspects of the arts, culture, music, entertainment, travel, and
fashion in several cities, including New York, London, Berlin,
Istanbul, Sydney, Bangkok, and Hong Kong to name a few. Fluent in
English, German, Dutch, and Spanish, Triston has been published in The
Huffington Post, Trespass (London), FashionTV, as
well as featured in publications such as the New York Times, Vogue
Italia, Turkish Huriyet, InStyle, and other on-line and print
magazines in the U.S. and internationally. He recently released the first volume
of his memoir on life in Europe, 'Heaux Confessionals: The
Sintroduction'. As a solo performer and with his project band $kandal
Du$t, he has toured in some of the world's most renown clubs,
simultaneously maintaining an underground renaissance,
blurring the lines of all that is traditional and leaving his
indelible, and ultimately unforgettable impression. There is no divide
- brace yourself.
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