SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL MANCHIN – MASTER

PAUL MANCHIN
MASTER
INDEPENDENT

Paul Manchin is a Toronto-based artist who has carved out his own niche and style within the EDM music scene. He manages to have one foot firmly in 1980s style with the other one in contemporary music. By doing this, he creates his own distinct style, which stands out among other artists in this genre. He also writes very strong, thought-provoking lyrics. Master is his first album in a few years, and basically is a compilation of a number of those singles.

Manchin’s songs are both personal and universal. The songs flow from one to the other with ease and sound fantastic. He does have some help from top notch writers, players, and performers such as Moe Berg, Brent Bodrug, Denzil Remedios, Black Jack, and David Bottrill.

“Gratification”, for example, was  co-written with David Botrill, who plays on the song as well. It is a fantastic song which has a gritty, slow grind. “Spin” (which features 1980s pop singer Candi from Candi and The Backbeat) , which involved Spryos Poulos, is a much more straightforward funk based dance song. And that is just two of the 40 songs. “First” (which was written with Black Jack) is a piano based ballad about birth. It is a moving song addressing the hopes, dreams and all that a birth brings to mind.

But the album has its darker moments as well, such as “Nothing”, which opens with “Lying in this bed. All my thoughts are empty in my head.” The song ponders life and depression. But that is the beauty of Manchin, he sets this heavy and darker material to incredible music that on one hand reflects the mood but at the same time is damn catchy. Songs about love lost, “Blue” (another song he wrote and produced with Black Jack)  and “Don’t Love You Anymore” (which Manchin co-wrote with Denzil Remedios) also explore the darker side of life, and again, yet they are beautiful songs.

Manchin is a talented musician, who, over the past couple of years has come up with 40 diverse and intriguing songs. Throughout Master, he brings the listener into his world with his music and lyrics. There is a lot to listen to and a great deal to absorb, but it is worth the time and energy. Listening to Manchin is a rewarding experience and Master demonstrates that he is, indeed, a master at his craft of songwriting and performing.

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