Didn't He Ramble

by Glen Hansard

Overview

Glen Hansard is an artist who is not afraid to lay bare his soul for his audience to see, but few artists as passionate as Hansard can modulate themselves quite so well; his music is deeply and openly emotional without Hansard sounding as if he's melting into a puddle of melodrama. Hansard's emotional high-wire act is once again the centerpiece of his third full-length solo effort, 2015's Didn't He Ramble, and the album's polished yet rustic modern-folkie sensibility is a splendid backdrop for Hansard's compositions, ten songs that find rays of hope in bad situations while also never missing the bits of rust in his own emotional armor. Didn't He Ramble was cut during sessions in Ireland, England, and the United States, but the set has a warm and unified feel, suggesting the glory days of the '70s singer/songwriter era but with a cleaner and less indulgent sensibility. Hansard's singing is at the top of his game on Didn't He Ramble, unaffected but strong as the soulful edges of his instrument wrap themselves around his songs like a more restrained version of Van Morrison (especially on the gospel-tinged "Her Mercy"). Hansard's accompanists make the most of his lean but evocative melodies, and the string arrangements by Rob Moose and Thomas Bartlett are excellent, adding to the air of mystery in these tunes without giving the performances an unwelcome level of gloss. Didn't He Ramble shows that as a performer and a songwriter, Hansard can create powerful and satisfying work that's up to the standard he set with the Frames, and this is a step up from 2012's impressive but uneven Rhythm and Repose. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	09/18/2015
Label:	ANTI
UPC:	0045778741922

Tracks

1. Grace Beneath the Pines
2. Wedding Ring
3. Winning Streak
4. Her Mercy
5. McCormack's Wall
6. Lowly Deserter
7. Paying My Way
8. My Little Ruin
9. Just to Be the One
10. Stay the Road

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Glen Hansard   Primary Artist,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Mandolin
Curtis Fowlkes   Trombone
Eimear Crehan   Director
Earl Harvin   Drums
David Odlum   Guitar,Percussion
Joseph Doyle   Bass
Michael Buckley   Flute,Saxophone
Ronan Dooney   Trumpet
Rob Moose   Viola,Strings,Mandolin
Sam Amidon   Violin,Vocals
Kenny Wollesen   Drums
John Sheahan   Violin
Thomas Bartlett   Piano,Celeste,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer
Ray Rizzo   Drums
Rob Bochnik   Guitar
Sam Beam   Vocals
Justin Carroll   Keyboards
Graham Hopkins   Drums
Brad Albetta   Bass

Technical Credits

Dave Groener, Jr.   Engineer
Claire Crehan   Arranger
Jesse O' Connor   Engineer
Patrick Dillett   Mixing,Engineer
David Odlum   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Glen Hansard   Design,Composer,Photography
Danny Clinch   Photography
Michael Buckley   Horn Arrangements
Jon Altschuler   Engineer
Rob Moose   String Arrangements
John Sheahan   String Arrangements
Thomas Bartlett   Producer,Executive Producer,String Arrangements
Tom Schick   Engineer
Sheila Sachs   Design
David Cleary   Design
Karl Odlum   Engineer