Rating: 3 Pulses
Murfreesboro is certainly a musically thriving community, and is also blessed with an eclectic mix of genres and styles of music. Ossian Dox is a fine example of such a melting pot of influences.
If his music were a recipe, I would say it is comprised of some funky beats here, a dash of Nick Drake there, all mixed together with a healthy portion of Bob Dylan. Consisting primarily of upbeat guitar strumming over some occasional, subtle percussion and warm, isolated lyrics, the music is obviously recorded in a house, and at times it sounds as though the mic is slightly too close to the subjects.
All that aside, when I first sat down and heard his first track, “Outta My Mind (Like Mozart),” I was extremely intrigued. The beginning of the song, straight through to the end was a wonderful experience. The contrast of the low harmonic hum, combined with the smooth transition into the song from his guitar was perfect, I loved it. I also enjoyed “A Ghost of Descartes” which sounds as though he has pulled up a chair to give some last advice to a young loved one.
Unfortunately the rest of the album was not quite as unique and exciting. It is obvious that it’s not a lack of talent musically which disappointed me, but more in the organization and lack of definition. I feel like most of the songs sound all to similar. Additionally, after tapping your foot to some nice window-down, folksy, grab-a-guitar-by-the-campfire sounding tracks, you get smacked with a very electronic, intro-to-a-rap-song type beat. I don’t have a problem at all with electronic music, it just seems very out of place after four tracks of soft acoustics. The album is called Panharmonicon Musings, leaving the door open for such a mix, but it just doesn’t sit well.
His voice is honest and wholesome, and his guitar strumming sounds very familiar and warm. Lyrically, there is certainly some room for improvement.
Ossian needs to get in a real studio, and soon, as his talent is not fully demonstrated in this “home” recording, but is enough to give hope for better things sure to come.
Check him out at myspace.com/ossiandox.
