Brian Baker - Single Review: Everywhere You Go
Brian Baker left Aotearoa some 40 years ago to find
fame and fortune in Australia, and after a successful recording and touring
career he has now returned home, setting up a studio and settling in an
off-the-grid permaculture farm north of Auckland. His long-time sparring buddy Eddie
Rayner (Split Enz, Crowded House) has provided tips and critique on this
his new single, but multi-instrumentalist Brian not only produced this, but
provided all the instrumentation and vocals. It commences with just some guitars
providing the lick, repeating it a few times before allowing Brian to start
singing. Right from the off the listener finds themselves with a smile on their
face as not only is this a classic blues/country style song, but there is just
so much space within the arrangement. Some artists find it necessary to ram instruments
and effects into every track, which not only makes it difficult to hear all
that is going on, but also removes the space and smothers the music. Music needs
room to breathe, and here it is provided in spades, which allows everything to
gel and really come alive.
There is a groove here, and when Brian brings in the rhythm section, it accentuates the space and never rushes in to fill it. The bridge is superb, fitting in so well, while that repeated lick keeps returning time and again. This sounds more like a song from an established American artist than someone from our part of the world, and it continues to develop with mass vocals and some wonderfully restrained guitar overlays. It is delicate, refined, and a great example of how a musician can relax into a song and provide some incredible ambience without ever forcing the issue. He plays with both tempo and arrangement, providing wonderful contrast and dynamics which lifts this to another level. Let’s hope it is not too long until the album.
About Brian Baker
After moving to Australia from New Zealand in 1980, he performed with many Australian bands, securing a Sony recording deal with The Ones in 1986 after signing a publishing deal with Rondor Music. Around this time he scored his first song placement on the second Un Canny X-Men album, What You Give Is What You Get. After writing and recording top 20 single Heart with The Ones he went on to co-write the score for the movie Rikki and Pete with Eddie Rayner from Split Enz.
Eddie and Brian continued to work together as The Makers, releasing 2 CDs through Warner, East West label, including the hit single and video Big Picture. Together with drummer Michael Barker, they toured Australia and New Zealand with the B52's.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Brian Baker
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