STYLE: MOR / Soft Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 77551-15200 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman
Kansas-based instrumentalist and cancer survivor Darrell North is best known for providing made to measure meditational music to act as a healing aid for those facing major illnesses. With this release, North turns his hand to providing material "for celebrating cowboy and western events" in what marks something of a change of direction. Several aspects of this release hint at irony - a couple of po-faced shotgun wielding locals on the front cover and song titles like "Amerimex With Class" and "Dudes". But, in reality, the content within fails to inspire. Of the 13 keyboard-led instrumentals, the majority are in the same bossanova vein which results in a lack of distinction between tracks. Despite North's efforts to provide appropriate song titles ("Wonderful West", "Partners" and "Gunfighter" to name but a few), the tunes featured here are of a fairly generic nature that hint towards the cowboy theme in name alone. North references his Christian faith in the album's final track "Personal Peace". But I would suggest his material is more suited to the sterling work he does with cancer hospices, patients and families rather than gospel music listeners.
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