BOTW Review: Daughn Gibson – Me Moan
This album might be referred to as a ‘sophomore’ release from Pennsylvania’s Daughn Gibson, following his debut long-player All Hell. Although, the institutional metaphor doesn’t seem to fit in this particular context. You get the feeling that Daughn Gibson is too much of a free agent for that kind of label. Me Moan is an eclectic effort, one that seems to show something of Gibson’s varied life experience and his much lauded knack for weaving a good yarn.
Gibson’s brand of mellow pop with a country edge is distinctive in many ways, but let’s start with the obvious: that voice. That. Voice. His sultry tones sit half way between the Americana-style lilt of Grant Lee Buffalo and the dark, glowering baritone of The National‘s Matt Berninger. It’s deep, dark and sensuous. It will make you want to do bad things. Trust me, you’ll know what I mean when you hear it.
Gibson stated that the ideas for the album fermented in a vat of Fleetwood Mac, particularly Mirage and Tango in the Night, and it shows. There are certain tracks on the record that deftly channel the band’s perfect pop sensibilities, creating instantly addictive hooks and melodies that make the album instantly loveable. But, thanks to Daughn’s distinctive vocals and inventive lyrics, Me Moan remains a healthy distance away from 80s pop pastiche. ‘Phantom Rider‘, for instance, is a liquid rush of slightly tripped-out electro that could comfortably slide right into the Drive motion picture soundtrack. ‘Into the Sea’ is equally as melodic, but distinctly more soothing, whilst ‘Won’t You Climb‘ is bathed in sun-kissed nostalgia, with Gibson’s Appalachian twang echoing over the slide guitar.
The lyrics on this album might seem cryptic at first, but they are one of its standout features. They come together like a collection of stills, snapshots of stories and experiences. Whether queuing to buy some merlot and smoking a broken cigarette, mourning a suicide or tales of the State Trooper’s daughter in ‘The Pisgee Nest‘, they are always intriguing and, more often than not, unsettling too.
Me Moan is an album that injects new life into Americana, acting as a unique confluence of influences; it fuses country elements with electro pop sensibilities and provides Daughn Gibson the raconteur space to demonstrate his considerable talent. It’s slow, it’s steady, but you know what? It’s a winner.
– Katherine Travers
