DANIEL GANNAWAY: darling one year

Daniel Gannaway

darling one year

© 2004 Daniel Gannaway (634479042508)

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".A perfect blend of lyrics, emotion and rhythm.If your looking for some refreshing new music for the soul, I whole-heartedly recommend singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway's 'darling one year' as a must have for your collection." - AllAboutSurf

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Daniel Gannaway
darling one year

Daniel Gannaway's latest offering darling one year is an emotional roller coaster of intense, indie folk/rock, with the slightest hint of electronica.

Recorded in Amsterdam and London, and finished in New Zealand, darling one year comes loaded with solid lyrics, great bass playing courtesy of Michael Brennan [the Feds, and Seven Dials] and drum influence by Stan Leboy. Combine this with varied influences such as the 4AD Records stable and New Zealand's own indie rock scene, and you've got one remarkable album. Some songs start out folk and end up rocking, others just stay folk, Gannaway's acoustic guitar always constant, winding through distorted vocals, effected guitars, drums and looped sounds.

This album travels further along that path his previous album Bound and Suburban started upon.

A welcome new chapter in this talented singer songwriter's ongoing story.

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Review of darling one year @ Indie-Music

Artist: Daniel Gannaway
CD: darling one year
Home: New Zealand
Style: Suburban Folkster

Quote: "Pioneering instrumentation insists on nothing but the freshest ingredients while still calling to mind the generation's pop titans."

By Genevieve Will

Daniel Gannaway's album, darling one year, feels the closest to a good trip as any I've had recently. Down to earth and laid back, it has none of the musical tension of trying too hard or the injection of false emotions. Suburban folky and bohemian chic, it ties up agreeably layered and distorted vocals into an angst-ridden, quirky pop as catchy as The Strokes but easily as mysteriously engaging as James Keenan Maynard. Infusing his genre-jumping style with a bit of electronic sound only adds to the distinctive vibe flowing throughout darling one year, and the inherently diverse nature of the album doesn't stop there. This surfer boy has managed to ride a wave deeper than most and doesn't seem to worry about finding another when this catch is over.

A natural Viagra for the sterile music environment enveloping the current scene, Gannaway's pioneering instrumentation insists on nothing but the freshest ingredients while still calling to mind the generation's pop titans like Beck's Sea Changes or perhaps a darkened Jamiroquoi. Effortless transitions from heavy to light, such as the ever so pleasant ones in "Julie," preserve quality taste of songs like a spanking new Tupperware container. Glaringly uncomplicated guitar playing positioned nearly unintelligibly over many more sheets of the same, opposite complimentary bass by Michael Brennan and some truly excellent percussion and "looping stuff" from Stan Leboy make the album a surprising delivery from a singer songwriter.

And while on the singer songwriter note, one should probably be able to sing a little; Gannaway's no exception. Lingering somewhere between Beck's sometimes dour humming and a Jeff Buckley-Daniel Lanois crooning competition, Gannaway lives up to all of his inspirations and others' with an unperturbed swaying intonation easy on any ears.

This New Zealander proves his prowess in the songwriting realm as well. Although sometimes on the dark side, he evinces no qualms about titling songs "Student Debt Sucks," and the like. The aforementioned song has a gloomier side, of course, but is not without humor. While repetition ultimately helps establish a setting for his songs, Gannaway's refrains do tend to get a little lengthy, resulting in a mildly droning end to some tracks. Still, with lines like "you say my god has treated me like a cheap one time fling," how can you resist?

Check out this fling (and he's worth more than one time).

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If you need evidence that there's still a "wandering minstrel," for lack of a better term, out there in the increasingly studio-bred world of music, allow me to present Daniel Gannaway as proof that the breed's not extinct. The New Zealand-based musician logged studio time for his latest album in London, Amsterdam, and NZ itself, all while working the road as a gigging musician. What has emerged from that work is Darling One Year, a tasty masterpiece of low-key mood that picks up the best stylistic experiments of his previous album and runs with them.

Of that previous album, I remember saying that Gannaway needed someone to hit the skins for him, and indeed on this outing he's assembled a nice little group of fellow musicians to fill out the sound with some real live drums and bass. Gannaway's voice, often processed and a bit ethereal, wafts over the proceedings - if anything, the best example on Bound Of Suburban to which I could compare Darling One Year's vocals would be Achilles, where it sounded like the vocals were being driven through a flange pedal; in some cases on Darling One Year's heavier numbers, the vocals sound like they're going through a guitar distortion pedal or some similar effect, and while the effects are never out of place with the songs, every once in a while it makes it a little hard to hear what's actually being sung.

And that's really my only quibble (and it's a small one at that) with Darling One Year, because the lyrics are worth hearing - they're often pointed and topical. The title track takes a first-person view of the oscurity of being an independent musician, and there's no Bon Jovi waffle about riding a steel horse to be found here, but there's no regret or bitterness to it either.  Student Debt Sucks is funny and yet has a bubbling-just-under-a-boil rant going at the same time, with a great lyrical turn of phrase in "lending you astray." Lyrically, the best song on here by miles is Chain, railing against bigotry and war and offering a philosophical comment about how every life is essentially a string of one-on-one encounters of one kind or another, any one of which could break said chain.  See The Light offers a wry commentary on door-to-door evangelism (and here I thought that was a uniquely American phenomenon). And bookending things nicely, the last track, A Small Thankyou, is exactly as advertised.

Darling One Year is some excellent music that, hopefully, can get a wider audience by word-of-mouth. Daniel Gannaway's unique style of filtering folk influences through modern recording techniques makes for quite a compelling listen, and it certainly doesn't hurt that he writes some damn good songs too. I'm pretty sure I said this about his previous release too, but I'll repeat it here - if you only indulge in one independent release this year, Darling One Year would make a fine pick.

Reviewed by Earl Green
theLogBook

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AllAboutSurf gave it a huge review:

"...each and every one of these songs I found to be a monument in itself. A perfect blend of lyrics, emotion and rhythm in each one...If your looking for some refreshing new music for the soul, I whole-heartedly recommend darling one year as a must have for your collection."
- AllAboutSurf.com

Link for the full review at AllAboutSurf:
http://www.promusicnews.com/articles/daniel_gannaway2

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Although this album is somewhat avante-garde, it's not in the 'huh?' kind of way that leaves you scratching your head in confusion. Falling in the category of indie folk-rock to a certain extent, this is music that carves out its own flavour, sometimes morphing genres within one song. Instrumentation centres around Gannaway's capable acoustic guitar, augmented by Mike Brennan's bass, and drums and loops by Stan Leboy providing a passing nod of acknowledgement to the grooves of electronica. Although something of an international effort [London and Amsterdam feature in the credits], Auckland's West Coast [muse of many] namely Muriwai beach gets a mention. The lyrical matter covers and array of topics, ranging from the standard relationships, to the blight of student debt in the not-at-all-enigmatically titled Student Debt Sucks. While standing proud as "truly independent music", 'Darling One Year' doesn't compromise in production quality, and what has resulted, is a well crafted album that takes some innovative and unexpected turns.

Tim Page - New Zealand Musician Magazine

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Albums by kiwi [NZ] indie singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway:

2008 - JOINED LIKE NOTES
2007 - HEADING FOR COUNTRY
2006 - OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political
2005 - SUMMER STORM | A collection of ukulele ditties
2004 - darling one year
2002 - BOOTLEGGED AT THE 12 BAR CLUB [released 2006]
2001 - Bound and Suburban
2000 - Bootlegged at the Temple
1999 - flashback*
1998 - FINE BY ME

http://www.cdbaby.com/all/danielgannaway

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More truly independent releases:

2007 - ELECPHONIC: SOPHOMOREPHONIC
2006 - ELECPHONIC: ELECPHONIC
2004 - kidameln - the kidameln lo-fi

http://www.cdbaby.com/group/trulyindependent

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truly independent has kidameln's debut & Daniel's first 3 albums in the CD Baby $5 Specials!

http://www.cdbaby.com/group/trulyindependent

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truly independent recommends a newly recovered live gem of Daniel:

BOOTLEGGED AT THE 12 BAR CLUB
[11 Songs - Solo Acoustic - London - April 2002]
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway8

Recorded live in an intimate little venue in the centre of London – the 12 Bar Club – Daniel’s vocal range and delicate guitar, sometimes complimented by harmonica, are collected surprisingly well and make for a beautifully meandering compilation.

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OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway7

"Documenting many of Daniel's previously unrecorded songs of environmental, social and political importance, OP-ED is an inspired compilation of acoustic material on guitar and ukulele - all recorded in Hawaii during February of 2006."

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SUMMER STORM | A collection of ukulele ditties
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway6

"Written and recorded in Hawaii and New Zealand, Summer Storm - Daniel's sixth solo outing - references laidback island life with the ukulele's nylon strings, while wrapping it up in the kind of dynamic folk/indie-rock/electronic feel..."

"...like Gannaway's home country, this music [SUMMER STORM] is an exotic, faraway place in relationship to the rest of the overall modern musical landscape. Nevertheless, these unique Gannaway sounds offer a pleasant getaway" - Indie-Music.

"...The great aspect of the album [SUMMER STORM] is that each song's arrangement maintains a minimalistic nature, which shows a discipline and a depth of understanding on Gannaway's part. Underneath the ukelele, the cruising drums and harmonic supporting bass grooves provide an all around easy and easily recommendable listen..." - NZ Musician Magazine

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darling one year
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway5

"...A perfect blend of lyrics, emotion and rhythm...If your looking for some refreshing new music for the soul, I whole-heartedly recommend darling one year as a must have for your collection." - AllAboutSurf.com

"...Down to earth and laid back, it has none of the musical tension of trying too hard or the injection of false emotions. Suburban folky and bohemian chic, it [darling one year] ties up agreeably layered and distorted vocals into an angst-ridden, quirky pop as catchy as The Strokes but easily as mysteriously engaging as James Keenan Maynard..." - Indie-Music.com

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Daniel's music is available from such online digital providers as: CD Baby; SNOCAP; Mp3tunes; AudioLunchbox; Apple iTunes Music Store; Rhapsody; Napster; BuyMusic; Emusic; Sony Connect...

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CafePress Stores Now Open!

http://www.cafepress.com/danielgannaway
http://www.cafepress.com/kidameln
http://www.cafepress.com/elecphonic
http://www.cafepress.com/trulyindie

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LYRICS:

01 - Darling one year

Like many I've played sometimes
To not a one that cared in small bars
Now and then I'll support someone
Who's experienced adulation
Over the years
Over the years

They say darling one year
And nobody the next
Well I'm wondering
What would it be like to be a darling?
A darling

Media monopolised and controlled
Can anything independent be known in this world?
There are rays of hope
I hope things will improve
Over the years
Over the years

They say darling one year
And nobody the next
Well I'm wondering
What would it be like to be a darling?
A darling

If you attain the height of celebrity
Well you might just plummet
I don't need fame
No I just need to make a living

I don't think it unjust I'm just
Speaking of it the way it is
I'm not complaining
For I've learnt and made choices
Through these few years
Through these few years

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2004

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02 - Student debt sucks

Well there was your your boombox
On the table pounding out a packing beat
And all your talk of student debt
Increasing exponentially
It's no wonder that you leave

If they just wanted to make money
Why didn't they say so?
Instead of lending you astray
Then saying you can't escape to
Somewhere you can make a dent
Against a growing debt
It's like a mortgage tied right around your young young neck
Your neck your neck your neck

Well they expect to stop this brain drain
By accumulating interest on your payments
While you make no headway
Staying here means ending up with nothing

If they just wanted to make money
Why didn't they say so?
Instead of lending you astray
Then saying you can't escape to
Somewhere you can make a dent
Against a growing debt
It's like a mortgage tied right around your young young neck
Your neck your neck your neck

Hey keep packing

Well it's a shame to leave for something other
Than pleasure or adventure
But you got this debt to pay
And no one local can better the offer
And the knowledge you got
Could singlehandedly raise the kiwi gdp
But to pay back this debt you got to get get
So keep at it it and keep packing

Hey keep packing

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2004

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03 - Julie

Oh Julie like m'baby
Your mouth, your mouth is so sweet
Oh Julie like m'baby
Well now I got fire on the tip of my tongue
Oh Julie like m'baby
What a light show it's rocking us so
Oh Julie like m'baby
I know I know just where it is I'd like us to go

But it's not the right time
I'm just standing and you're dancing so fine
I don't think that we'll get together tonight
Things are going on and my hearts not quite right

Oh Julie like m'baby
Steady me steady me
Oh Julie like m'baby
I like those daffodils in your hair
Can you tell me when did you put them there?
Oh Julie like m'baby
Oh how you teach it's all within reach
But Julie like m'baby
I've no speech
Can I call you when my words return from the beach?

'cause it's not the right time
I'm just standing and you're dancing so fine
I don't think that we'll get together tonight
Things are going on and my hearts not quite right
Not quite right

Julie you know

You know you light up my world when you smile at me

And I'm almost together enough to get together
I'm almost together enough to get together

Oh you light up my world when you smile at me

'cause I'm almost together
I'm almost together Julie

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2004

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04 - Gotta drive

These needs are wrong

Inner city street on a friday night
I let myself down but I'm feeling alright
If I close my eyes I'll never know
And I'll take these thoughts home alone

Well I itch my scalp and rub my chin
Salivate over what might of been
If I'd made the call then I'd be made
But I'm better off to get on my way

I gotta drive straight home

These needs are wrong

Well I cannot kill a heedless want
Though I tend to disagree in a mirror
But it turns itself like a circus trick
It baits me up on a hook
For a roadside thigh
Or a quarter hit
Anything I need to go with it
Anything I need to go with it
Anything I need to go with it

I gotta drive straight home

To where her heart is
To where her trust is
To a real companion
And guilt for things I've done
All these things that I've done

These needs are wrong

Done are the deeds I should not have
I was a weak willed fuck that could not please her
Now I got to get it up
And figure out how to please her please

These needs are wrong

I gotta drive straight home

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2004

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05 - In the North Sea

Today the sun shines in a clearing sky
So blue surrounds the bright
Soft gentle candy floss clouds scattered
As though by a carefree child
I've been on my back since about five
I ate a peach while I watched the rise
It's a pleasure to feel light with strength so early
Prior to this day we've had nothing but weeks of grey

Today's not a day for too deeply thinking
I'm just gonna put my mind to sleep

Some friends of mine are gonna go out
To what they know as the beach
No more sounds of that highway down below no no
In the North Sea I'm gonna be dipping my feet

Today's not a day for too deeply thinking
I'm just gonna put my mind to sleep

Your face and your name cross my thoughts
You know I think of you like a sibling
In that when I look into your heart
I see that in parallel we are drifting
Now moments are all that we're taking with us
If there's somewhere to go we pack our bags
Money's not our soul's motivation
No we do so many things out of love

Today the sun shines in a clearing sky
So blue surrounds the bright
No more sounds of that highway down below no no
In the North Sea I'm gonna be dipping my feet

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2004

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06 - Laughing free

Do we have to do this conventionally
Your eyes true I know you don't care for ceremony
Well I'm tied up and you're tied up with me
Sick of playing acrobats landing respectably

We could shock them like a bolt of lightning
Scorch their tender feet and run away laughing free

Laughing free

Well I was thinking about what you said yesterday
How we think alike and just might even be the same
Do you think we were born either side of that mirror?
Then we ran through life looking for one another

We could shock them like a bolt of lightning
Scorch their tender feet and run away laughing free

Laughing free

So you unwrap me and I'll unwrap you
You are my gift I my gift to you

Laughing free

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2004

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07 - Chain

Shell's gonna meet me at 12
He's had the bottom fall out of his life
Stevie confirmed with HIV
Shell's all clear but messed up over Stevie
And a guy in a bar said they deserve it those faggots
I said come on man that's ignorant comment
Could be you me your girlfriend or her mom
Just needs the wrong decision in the wrong situation

This life's a chain through every coupling

Often times I complain about meaningless shit
Sometimes I stop tell myself hold on one minute
Other times I think well my problems they're relevant
But then I'm not at the mercy of a war
People then they have no choice
Maybe oil or religion or maybe it's just chance
They could be cut down as they run
Or while standing over the bodies of their dying loved ones

This life's a chain through every coupling

So tell your loved ones that you love them

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2004

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08 - See the light

So full of good I knock on your door
Face full of smile you invite me in to tell you more
Of these pavements I walk with a purpose in my stride
I got a book full of hope and a lord for you to confide in

I can help you help me help you
Can you help me help you help me?
See the light

Please don't bring up science
It's all hearsay based on fact
I've got a compelling read
It's based on hearsay realer than that
Now why would you question
There is no question in my mind
Since I took the first step
I got this brand new life

I can help you help me help you
Can you help me help you help me?
See the light
The light

I'm praying
Praying here

You ask what light?
Oh and you show me the joke
Oh this is so cruel
Well this was the last bastion
Of my faith and my hope
You're calling me a puppet
Though I can't say I've ever seen the strings
You say my god has treated me
Like a cheap one time fling
I'm not a fling no no no

I can help you help me help you
Can you help me help you help me?
See the light

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2004

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09 - Ecstasy lovers

An air of expectation
Soon we will all come on
She will reverberate
Bring forth the tempo and the beat
We'll ride at her beck and call
Weary of Tuesday and her downfall
A pulse a rush overwhelming us
Friends we have embarked

As ecstasy lovers
We're all ecstasy lovers

I'm writing through folk to tell ya
Of electronica
We've earned our weekend life
Our only concern is having fun tonight
We won't be doing this forever
No we keep watch over one another
The music's kicking and we're hooking up
Sharing love and crazy friendship

As ecstasy lovers
We're ecstasy lovers

I can feel it
Can you feel it?

The beat is picking up
We're swinging in one with it
My lover and I
Dancing eye to eye

My lover and I

And the beat is picking up
We swing in one with it
My lover and I
Dancing eye to eye

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2004

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10 - A small thankyou

Oh my friends
Please don't apologise for the state of this room
A beggar cannot be a chooser
And you've welcomed him into your home
Often times I'm in the dark with no headlights
And you loom up like a beacon saying
Hey crash at ours if you want tonight

So I stand here I say thank you
For friendship and crossing paths
Oh I stand here I say thank you
For all these years in and out of your lives

Oh I've worried that you might have thought I was just a user
And I've worried that sometimes I've had nothing in return to offer
And I know you'd never expect nothing for nights safe under your roof
But it's there these words come from
And it's for you that I'm singing this song

So I stand here I say thank you
For friendship and crossing paths
Oh I stand here I say thank you
For all these years in and out of your lives
Your lives

Cause' I'm so thankful
I'm so thankful
I'm so thankful for all of you
Cause' I'm so thankful
I'm so thankful
I hope you accept this small thankyou

So I stand here I say thank you
For friendship and crossing paths
Oh I stand here I say thank you
For all these years in and out of your lives
Thank you

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2004

reviews

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  • From acoustic folk through to textured electronica, he blends styles with a seam
    author: Richo

    “Darling One Year” offers an intriguing view of life through Daniel’s lyrical prose. It’s a shinning example of how far this guy has travelled, both physically and emotionally. It feels as though he’s matured to a new level of sophistication. From acoustic folk through to textured electronica, he blends styles with a seamless confidence. A sense of romantic fulfilment has replaced the melancholic uncertainty of previous albums (except, perhaps, for a favourite song of ours “Julie”). My only small critique would be the voice distortion sometimes makes it difficult to hear the lyrics, but this may be intended to do just that - making us all listen a little closer. “In the North Sea” has a wonderful charm, this melodic lullaby has managed to put our newborn into dreamland on many an occasion, thanks man! It’s also great to hear Daniel using his unique talent to be a voice, raising awareness of the futility facing so many university graduates today. Student debt does suck! “Laughing free” really re-enforces the sense of emotive fulfilment that prevails through his recent work - not only on “Darling One Year”, but also throughout his side project “kidameln” we sense a real happiness and joy. The strong repetition really drives the chorus to the point where I find myself happily singing along. As the title reflects, this is a defined, compact album - a format which suits the intensity of Daniel’s multi-layered, sophisticated arrangements. Whilst listening in time, I’ve found my mind swimming through different moods… different tracks drifting together and apart, sparking reverie and memories.

  • all
    author: marina

    ... ily

  • Aotearoa rocks
    author: R

    The best of Gannaway's work by far. That sense of urban bitterness on some of the tracks!

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