Davey Beige

Auckland singer/songwriter Davey Beige refers to his music as 'acoustic soul", which is helpful and fair. It's clearly acoustic in the playing and spacious analogue recording, and while his voice dosen't stand up well to close scrutiny in the genre, lyrically this is certainly a soul-ful album. And the right instrumentation too, with the alternative-tuned guitar-playing Mr Beige himself adding harmonica and a band of very experienced cohorts grooving ever-so gently alongside. Josh Sorenson mainly brushes his drums while Ben Turia plays gentile double bass, Harry Lyon delicately plucks mandolin and Johnny Fleury blends in lap steel. The title and origami cover imagery seem a good fit as well - this album unfolds with time, revealing more of its well-recorded simple pleasures and developing its charm on repeat listenings. With engineering and mastering by Angus McNaughton this album almost has the look of a MAINZ staff outing, most participants being tutors at the Auckland music school campus. Any student of 'acoustic soul' will surely enjoy this learning experience. - NZ Musician