TWILIGHT HOTEL —WHEN THE WOLVES GO BLIND (Cavalier Recordings)

[Maurice Hope]

www.cavalier-musicmanagement.com

www.twilighthotel.ca 

Canadian duo, Brandy Zdan and Dave Quanbury are joined by Stephen Hodges, Jeff Turmes, John Whynot (and he co-produced the album with the couple) and Andrew Lynch on this their third album, and though it isn’t a stop you in your tracks type of recording it doesn’t take long for the enchanting vocals of Zadan and Quanbury and innovative arrangements to grab the listener’s attention.

 

Recorded in LA the couple concentrate to a large degree on delicate, cunning-like traits to both form and strengthen their music. That travels like they have taken across in support of their sophomore album Highway Prayer, America and their native Canada as in poignant, cinematic tale ‘Mahogany Veneer’ figure strongly in their music. A song of great magnitude it has Dave speak of having pennies in their pockets as they arrive in New York, falling in love with Memphis and of rock‘n’roll, the deep sadness associated with the destruction of New Orleans by hurricane Katrina. While on travelling through Saskatchewan the story takes in a suicide and how the night they were leaving Nashville Johnny’s house was burning down. So vivid and well crafted are the lyrics you feel like you sat alongside Dave and Brandy —as they make the journey. To the degree you are not only on first names with them but the characters and cities visited.   

 

The remaining tracks have a great deal to live up to and through the wistful and charismatic, eerie like ‘When The Wolves Go Blind’ accordion aided (Zadan) jazz influenced ‘What Do I Know About Love? and keen rocker ‘Ham Radio Blues’ fires a passion to elevate the soul a few fail to do so. The latter possessing fuzzy electric guitar and a driving beat with Dave on lead vocals it rekindles rock‘n’roll’s old cutting edge as it powers forth. 

 

‘Poor & Hungry’ is an arty piece, and though still of the ilk “When I’m Gone’ offers that little extra enough for me to be attracted to replay the song and savour their heart-tugging vocal harmonies and well written lyrics. Going back to rock‘n’roll ‘The Master’ on given a new edge shows both Brandy (lead vocals) and Dave (he also plays a host of instruments) in splendid form. The thinking man’s music…. it could be a way to describe this charming duo.

 

                                                            Maurice Hope    

FSR Tour Feature and UK Dates     http://flyinshoes.ning.com/profiles/blogs/twilight-hotel-start-uk-tour

Flyinshoes Review Cover Playlist