David Ace Dean - November/December 2007
Who: David Ace Dean
Where: Montreal
What: ace
Contact: Kim Clarke Champniss at kimcc@sympatico.ca, www.davidacedean.com.
John Sakamoto of the Toronto Star and well-regarded Anti-Hit List wrote of this young artist: “Imagine Beck circa Sea Change crossed with Depeche mode circa Precious,” and few could put it any better. This 22-year-old recorded his self-titled debut album with Byron Wong, the one-time member of My Brilliant Beast, and went on to produce numerous David Usher albums. David Ace Dean’s album has been four years in the making, written in Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax. Dean sings and plays guitar, bass, keys, and “machines.” Wong handles piano, machines, scratches and noise, and there are a few guest musicians. Strangely, but perhaps showing what era Dean’s head is in, the album is divided into sides one and two, like a vinyl recording. The first half kicks off with the poetic rap “Only Child,” the more Beck-like spoken vocal, and is followed by the altogether different “Centuremetry,” more Depeche Mode-y with its ping-pong beat and Dave Gahan singing style, just not as dark. Another great cut is “Great Expectations,” a slow, sombre piano number, underscored by synthesized orchestra. The second half seems less finished, and the songs don’t pull you in the way the first half does. Still, by then, you’re hooked on D.A.D.
Listen to David Ace Dean’s One Year Older:
