William Bates,"Dreamland-A Song Cycle" (t21 Music)
Song cycles tend to be unavoidable, full-on explorations and commitments, somewhat daunting. The term is a softened form of an ‘epic’ but nonetheless, it is what it is. I was prepared to gird my loins when presented with the -- not one, but two disc song cycle “Dreamland” by William Bates. And yet, I felt instantly at home from the opening strains of “Spirits Catching Time/Dreamland” for I had been down similarly-rewarding paths before with Van Dyke Parks (the quintessential song-cycler). Bates’ voice will remind the listener of Parks, but I also hear Jim O’Rourke, and the accompanying acoustic pluckings reinforce that comparison.
But this work is just the sort of epic that one is delightfully surprised by, because you have the conventional aspects of folk/pop melded together with avant-garde boldness. Like Van Dyke Parks, William Bates exploration is undeniably American -- with the rockabilly foray of “Everybody’s Happy” and the driving “Blues Won’t Let Me Be”. But to Bates’ credit, this isn’t strictly a one-man journey, as he is augmented by female vocal accompaniment (“A Woman’s Work is Never Done”) and female artistry most pronounced in the composition, “Willow Weep for Me”.
The jazz and blues elements come more to the fore on disc 2, particularly with “Feel Like A Stranger”. I defy anyone to pin down this particular track, as it’s a blend of so many genres that at first you’re disoriented until you realize this is William Bates’ own style. “Days I Knew”, for example, sits on the cusp of being Sade-esque lounge-styled crooning but the emphatic persistent snare-and-high-hat shuffle moves this song into another terrain altogether.
While I’m still trying to tackle the depth of “Dreamland” (and it is a definable song cycle particularly given the recurring themes/wordplay in various songs), I can safely say that William Bates has presented the listener with a masterwork deserving of the title ‘song cycle’. It’s a true thing of beauty that never fails to stay fresh over the span of 2 discs; and there is quite literally something in here for anyone who appreciates jazz, pop, folk, and blues. Not only does William Bates excel, he surpasses those striving to tie together simply two genres. Quite simply, Bates is a musical alchemist, able to spin commonly-known genres into a golden one of his own.
To go to this artist's web site click here
Review by John Lane
Ear Candy Magazine
June 2004
