Steve Dawson (from the album Ghosts

Steve Dawson (from the album Ghosts

Steve Dawson (from the album Ghosts on Pravda Records) (By Lee Zimmerman)
 
Steve Dawson’s sixth solo album, Ghosts, finds him exploring all kinds of terrain, both physical and metaphysical as well. Dawson, one of the helmsmen of the Alternative Country band known as Dolly Varden, delves into subjects that can be uncomfortable to confront — small town prejudice, a world where one is confronted by the obtuse and unexpected, and disparate imagery that often isn’t all it seems.
 
Nevertheless, Dawson shares a soothing sound, offering a series of mellow melodies that belie the harsh realities that occasionally cross his path. The steel guitar sway of “Walking Cane” questions the sudden upsurge in turbulence and tenacity, but does so in such a way that entices the listener to join his journey. The autobiographical tale of “Leadville” details the hard-luck existence his experienced early on, all within the context of his own reflections and realizations. “It Was a Mistake” finds the singer owning up to earlier missteps, but doing so in a way that exudes his courage and conviction.  Nevertheless, there’s hope within the happenstance, as expressed on the easy, ambling opening track “Let Some Light In”, his uplifting ode to the Golden State, “Oh California”, and the joy and jubilance shared so eloquently in “I Am Glad to Be Alive”. ‘I am glad to be alive’ Dawson sings ‘to feel the ache in my side, the motion of the tide’. 
 
Where Dawson’s earlier efforts were mainly of his own making, Ghosts finds him recruiting an exceptional group of friends and fellow travelers from his native Chicago — Diane Christiansen, his partner in Dolly Varden, and singer Nora O’Connor, to contribute the harmonies, Alton Smith, who provides the extended piano coda on “When I Finally Let You Down” along with saxophonist Chris Greene and trumpeter John Moore who add the expressive brass flourish to the soulful sound of “It Was A Mistake”. Pedal steel player Brian Wilkie makes the most marked impression throughout, providing a sweet and serene tone to the majority of these tracks and lending a calming effect to the proceedings as a whole.
 
In certain respects, Ghosts could be considered a haunting and harrowing series of songs. Yet in the end, it’s uplifting and engaging to a much greater degree. Ultimately, it’s Dawson’s determination that wins out. (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Listen and buy the music of Steve Dawson from AMAZON
 
Please visit the Steve Dawson website for more information