SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAYNA MANNING – FIELD NOTES

DAYNA MANNING
FIELD NOTES
INDEPENDENT

Field Notes is the latest album from Canadian singer-songwriter Dayna Manning. Best known these days as a solo artist, Manning was also one-third of the JUNO Award-nominated folk trio Trent Severn from 2011 to 2019. While folk and acoustic music is her stock-in-trade, Manning’s work on Field Notes covers a lot of territory, containing elements of folk, pop, country, and jazz.

Things start off nicely with the acoustic groove of “Better Days.” In this declaration of optimism, Manning’s voice soars, with an impressive band and horn arrangement supporting the song. Equally impressive is “Dream Lives In Your Heart.” The artist’s singing is pure and beautiful and carries throughout this thoughtful ode. Elsewhere, the pleasant Celtic bounce of “From Canada” (a co-write with the late sculptor/filmmaker/inventor Bill Lishman) shines, as does “World We Live In,” with its steady vocal and instrumental build, and Beatlesque arrangement. With tracks ranging from the straight-up folk of “Take Me To Tobermory,” to the wonderfully layered and epic ecological plea of “Save Me,” there are many great moments here to keep the listener engaged. The emotive and moving “Anytown,” and Manning’s clever cover of Burton Cummings’ Guess Who hit, “These Eyes,” are also worthy of mention.

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Field Notes was produced in Toronto at Noble Street Studios, with initial recording completed (incredibly) in two days, and additional overdubs recorded at a barn studio in New Hamburg, ON. Collaborating musicians included multi-instrumentalist Derek Downham, guitarist Kevin Breit, bassist Russ Boswell, drummer Stephan Szczesniak, pianist Tom Szczesniak, violinist Andrew Chung, and flautist Laura Chambers. Downham and Breit are also credited as co-writers with Manning, as are Gavin Bradley and Graham Lindsey.

Interestingly, the songs on Field Notes come from various eras of Dayna Manning’s career, with some being earlier solo efforts, or songs from her time in Trent Severn. Others are new songs, but they all fit well on this album. The song arrangements here, many of which were created by Ben Bolt-Martin for Manning’s live show, make the transition well to the recording. These arrangements are truly exquisite, serving to showcase Manning’s songs, as well as adding depth and colour. Honestly, this recording harkens back to the sing-songwriter album era of the early 1970s, with its strong songs and stunning arrangements. Lovingly and thoughtfully produced by Manning, with Bolt-Martin, and John “Beetle” Bailey, Field Notes is an excellent album which should be heard by all.

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