07-12-2018, 16:34
PAVLOV'S DOG ~ Prodigal Dreamer
![[Image: R-12793218-1542050862-8905.jpeg.jpg]](https://img.discogs.com/s0cd_kl3J7TvYowVbxVtsoCh7UM=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-12793218-1542050862-8905.jpeg.jpg)
David Surkamp / vocals, acoustic & electric guitars
Sara Surkamp / vocals, acoustic guitar
David Malachowski / electric guitar
Mark Maher / grand piano, Hammond organ, synths
Abbie Steiling / violin
Rick Steiling / bass
Manfred Ploetz / drums
Also …
Paul Hennerich / trumpet
Saylor Surkamp / backing vocals
Hollie Woods / backing vocals
Robert Marstiller / percussion, backing vocals
It’s been a long, long time since any noteworthy Pavlov’s Dog material was released, IMHO, so I’ve been super excited and impatient to hear this new release! Greedy for those sounds once so much loved. Something about the track “Paris” that was released earlier promised good things to come so when the album became available today, I wanted to stuff the whole lot in my ears all at once, lol! Maybe it was the violin which is played truly beautifully throughout (Abbie Steiling is not an original member of Pavlov’s Dog, but somehow she recaptures some of whatever that magic ingredient was that they used to have), maybe it’s David Surkamp, who is obviously a bit of a shapeshifter – goes from being decidedly nasal and quavering on some tracks to going seriously deep and dark and then vamping back into that unmistakeable falsetto – maybe they’ve struck upon a happy confluence of instruments and artists, whatever it is, Prodigal Dreamer speaks to me and I love it! ….Mostly, lol! Then again – nothing’s perfect.
Unmistakeably rock, it’s a mixed bag, to a degree – I’ve had to listen twice because I didn’t get the flow the first time around, but it’s there alright – I must have been distracted. While “Winterblue is folky, there are screeching guitars on “Thrill of it All”, a surprisingly military beat to “Aria” which is a lovely song, gorgeous sweeping melody on “Waterlow”, aforesaid nasalness on “Suzanne” which is then saved by what I’m assuming is Malachowski’s guitar and that amazing violin that really is a glue, although the musicians all acquit themselves very nicely. I think the voice on “Crying Forever” must be Sara Surkamp - the style of the song is quite bluesy and unlike anything else on the album. I’m not sure yet what some of these songs are all about, but since I’ll be purchasing the album, there will be plenty of time to find out! Happy days …
Can't believe it's all on YouTube, already!! Starting with "Paris" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-JJJ-wJ...gI&index=1
And since I posted that one before ... "Aria" ....
![[Image: R-12793218-1542050862-8905.jpeg.jpg]](https://img.discogs.com/s0cd_kl3J7TvYowVbxVtsoCh7UM=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-12793218-1542050862-8905.jpeg.jpg)
David Surkamp / vocals, acoustic & electric guitars
Sara Surkamp / vocals, acoustic guitar
David Malachowski / electric guitar
Mark Maher / grand piano, Hammond organ, synths
Abbie Steiling / violin
Rick Steiling / bass
Manfred Ploetz / drums
Also …
Paul Hennerich / trumpet
Saylor Surkamp / backing vocals
Hollie Woods / backing vocals
Robert Marstiller / percussion, backing vocals
It’s been a long, long time since any noteworthy Pavlov’s Dog material was released, IMHO, so I’ve been super excited and impatient to hear this new release! Greedy for those sounds once so much loved. Something about the track “Paris” that was released earlier promised good things to come so when the album became available today, I wanted to stuff the whole lot in my ears all at once, lol! Maybe it was the violin which is played truly beautifully throughout (Abbie Steiling is not an original member of Pavlov’s Dog, but somehow she recaptures some of whatever that magic ingredient was that they used to have), maybe it’s David Surkamp, who is obviously a bit of a shapeshifter – goes from being decidedly nasal and quavering on some tracks to going seriously deep and dark and then vamping back into that unmistakeable falsetto – maybe they’ve struck upon a happy confluence of instruments and artists, whatever it is, Prodigal Dreamer speaks to me and I love it! ….Mostly, lol! Then again – nothing’s perfect.
Unmistakeably rock, it’s a mixed bag, to a degree – I’ve had to listen twice because I didn’t get the flow the first time around, but it’s there alright – I must have been distracted. While “Winterblue is folky, there are screeching guitars on “Thrill of it All”, a surprisingly military beat to “Aria” which is a lovely song, gorgeous sweeping melody on “Waterlow”, aforesaid nasalness on “Suzanne” which is then saved by what I’m assuming is Malachowski’s guitar and that amazing violin that really is a glue, although the musicians all acquit themselves very nicely. I think the voice on “Crying Forever” must be Sara Surkamp - the style of the song is quite bluesy and unlike anything else on the album. I’m not sure yet what some of these songs are all about, but since I’ll be purchasing the album, there will be plenty of time to find out! Happy days …

Can't believe it's all on YouTube, already!! Starting with "Paris" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-JJJ-wJ...gI&index=1
And since I posted that one before ... "Aria" ....
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson