Reviewed by Dustin Helgeson

Folk singer/songwriter Malcolm Evans has had quite a lot going on in the past year, playing at folk clubs, festivals and writing music that would eventually find its way onto the fabulously simple ‘Dream’. He’s had articles about his songs in local newspapers and has even found himself singing live on the radio. ‘Dream’ is the result of Evans’ first sessions in a recording studio. He says of it: “It is a snapshot of songs…that have been used at church, youth festivals and in pubs.” Quite a snapshot it is. Every track is amazingly written and simply performed by Evans’ voice and guitar. The piano on “Grace” is the only point in the album where another artist appears, adding seamlessly to Evans’ warm vocals and tasteful rhythms. Many of his songs are protest songs, such as “NIMBY”, about plans for a “bigger than Heathrow” airport between Coventry and Rugby. The chorus reads, “You can call me a NIMBY/But you know, it’s not that hard/To see why I don’t want a 747/ land in my backyard.” Delightfully fun songs like “NIMBY”, filled with social commentary, as well as many songs of spiritual and personal content, are found throughout the whole album. If you’re a fan of singer/songwriters and acoustic simplicity, check out the depth found on Malcolm Evans ‘Dream’.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.