David Gray
A New Day At Midnight
On Sale Now
For $13.75

Singer songwriter David Gray had released four albums before his breakthrough smash, White Ladder, made a mark on the ears of America. That record sent shockwaves through the music world with its emotional depth and currency. In the end it sold millions of copies on both sides of the Atlantic.

Gray’s latest disc, A New Day at Midnight, reflects the power and passion of this extraordinary songwriter. Instead of concentrating on finding big name producers or a hot shot studio to help him record this album, Gray focused his energies on writing great songs.

The twelve tracks on this disc are a testament to the lost art of songwriting. From the disc’s opening cut, “Dead in the Water,” Gray uses his trusty acoustic guitar to frame the semi- synthetic, semi-acoustic sounds that are his trademark.

While the rhythms are generally mid-tempo, some songs here, like “Kangaroo” and “Freedom,” explore the subtleties of loss with powerful lyrics, dropped beats and heartfelt performances. On “Freedom,” Gray sings, “As we make our vow/ Let us remember how nothing good lasts forever.”

Some of the production elements that make Gray’s recordings unique are the vintage keyboards and odd samples that he uses in his music. On “December” he completely reverses a keyboard part beneath the mix. It’s a cool layer that adds a translucent image across the body of the track.

For some strange reason the artist chose to leave one of the best songs on the album for last. The first single, “The Other Side,” uses swollen piano chords and dramatic percussion loops to persuade a broken lover to understand his heart.

David Gray’s A New Day at Midnight is a record that needs to be heard by the masses. Instead of relying on flashy videos, studio magic or multi-million dollar marketing campaigns, these songs grab you the old fashioned way... with the music.

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