SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PEIRSON ROSS & DOPAMINE DREAM – HOMAGE TO LOVE: RECORDED LIVE @ KENSINGTON SOUND

PEIRSON ROSS & DOPAMINE DREAM
HOMAGE TO LOVE: RECORDED LIVE @ KENSINGTON SOUND
INDEPENDENT

Intimate is a word that is used quite often in describing a musical event. However, it really is the only word to describe this live recording. Peirson Ross and Dopamine Dream performed to a small crowd at the legendary Kensington Sound Studio in Toronto. In doing so, they did create an intimate atmosphere performing covers and a few of their favourite songs. These are acoustic performances and Ross and Dopamine Dream have done an excellent job with their arrangements. Homage To Love is not so much a live recording as it is the sound of a gathering.

There are a few twists and turns. They turn Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne” into a jaunty singalong. It works, and no doubt Mr. Cohen would have given his blessings. This is followed with a melancholy version of Harry Nilsson’s classic “Me And My Arrow.” It is not a dirge, but it does evoke an element of sadness. Again, it is a very different take on the pop standard, and it is successful. In terms of their choices, there are no real surprises, but it is how they perform the songs that makes them downright fascinating. Their adaptation of “Planet Caravan” (from Black Sabbath’s Paranoid album) captures the essence of the song and Ross and Dopamine Dream give it an almost psychedelic rendering.

Their cover of David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” on the other hand tones down the flower power nightmare and takes it into a folk-rock realm. Again, the song does not lose anything from the adaptation, and in fact brings out the beauty of the song. And, bravely, they tackle Bob Dylan’s standard “Make You Feel My Love.” Their version is short, to the point, and strips the song to its acoustic framework. It is sublime. Ross’s own “Green Field” benefits from the new arrangement found here and fits in with the other classic covers.

Homage To Love is a great album. It is a tribute to songs that mean something to the band, and the crowd’s polite applause shows their appreciation. It must have been a great evening, and we are lucky that it has been recorded and is available to all of us who were not there. It is captured perfectly and listening to the recording, one can absorb the ambience created that night.

HOMAGE TO LOVE: RECORDED LIVE @ KENSINGTON SOUND IS OUT NOW AND AVAILABLE FREE ON BANDCAMP BELOW OR HERE

Peirson Ross Links

Dopamine Dream Links