The Road To Cairo/When Love Is Gone/Sonny Come Home/Blue Ribbons/What A Happy Day/Down River/ Laissez-Faire/Lotus Man/His Name Is Andrew/Be My Friend
Self titled debut album from the American singer songwriter David Ackles whose musical style has been compared to Leonard Cohen. It featured songs that mixed strong theatrical influences with piano-based rock.
“This is the first of David Ackles' four albums, and arguably the best. The songs capture you, drag you in, hold you at knifepoint, and then, breathlessly, let you go. The Road To Cairo, Sonny Come Home and Blue Ribbons, even the tender songs will have you clutching your heart.”
“Ackles was tuned to the darker undercurrent. For subtle nuance of lyric to piano, and range of feeling in the darker, and tender zones of relationship, I feel he hasn't a rival.”
“I would call this one a mature debut. Even though he would reach greater heights in later recordings, the blueprint was laid down here. The Brecht/Weill drunken carnival music alternating with quiet piano songs creates a fascinating atmosphere of unease, grotesques and quiet reflection.”
“Although virtually unknown, David Ackles was one of the best singer-songwriters of this era. With his deep voice and sombre tone, Ackles was somewhat similar to Leonard Cohen or Scott Walker, but his subject matter, unlike theirs, was middle American.”
“Fantastic arrangements, it's one of the best albums ever, a forgotten singersongwriter. If you like dark stricken music this is what you should buy. With the organ caressing the lyrics, this is most beautiful.”
“Existing somewhere between Leonard Cohen and Tim Buckley, his low deep voice hasn’t much range but is still fairly powerful, while musically the pared down band offers some tasty organ and guitar playing in support . Overall the record as a whole is a grower as you get more comfortable with Ackles slow, sad sound.”
"The Road To Cairo is the stand-out track, but the whole album is singer-songwriting at its best.”
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