>>PREVIEW
THESE HANDS
Thursday, September 14
The Palomino
Hidden gem, These Hands, a.k.a. Michael Hanson, is creating inventive and original music that is sure to catch you by surprise. His latest album, The Golden Touch, is a wonderful menagerie of folk, instrumental and experimental influences. It’s an exciting sound, especially when you consider that this relative unknown hails from Prince Albert. I don’t mean to sound condescending, but who would expect experimental, electronic music to come from Prince Albert?
Apparently, Hanson agrees. He admits he left Prince Albert for Saskatoon because he wasn’t "proud" of his hometown’s music scene. And can you blame him? To be honest, the prospect of Hanson’s complex and diverse sound coming from a rural setting seemed fitting at first. His music definitely recalls the loneliness and isolation of Nick Drake (a self-confessed major influence for Hanson). But perhaps it’s best that Hanson headed for Saskatoon’s bright lights, he certainly seems charmed by the city’s varied scene.
I ask him about the area’s experimental community and he responded by excitedly and admiringly rattling off a handful of bands he knew, sounding more like a fan than a fellow musician. It’s that sort of enthusiasm, coupled with his undeniable talent for arranging thoughtful music that makes The Golden Touch such a wonderful surprise. Though he has released previous EPs, his latest release is in many respects his debut, and the best debut albums are those filled with promise and palpable energy.
What seems to inspire Hanson the most is the idea of making something of his own, something original. He says simply, "(I’m just) trying to be something that’s not copied, trying to do something different."
And he’s certainly on track. It’s almost startling to picture the young man, armed with junior high guitar lessons, a drum machine and a sequencer, creating such an intricate and detailed album. It all came together after experimenting with different instruments and styles. He began working with other musicians as well, gradually moving from beats to live drums and incorporating more instrumental influences, rather than electronic. But he definitely has embraced some folky melodies.
Hanson does recognize his influences, such as Nick Drake and Elliot Smith, and admits they show on the album. He says he draws from their instrumentation and adoringly adds, "I really like the way they arrange things." It definitely lends something to the intimacy on the album.
His eagerness to build on his influences and create something new is coupled with an enthusiasm for music that I found quite charming. He seemed bashful at any compliment or hint of being mentioned alongside some of his favourite musicians. He excitedly spoke of Bruce Springsteen, Jose Gonzales and Ron Sexsmith as performers he admires and hoped to draw from. One wonders how awestruck he’ll soon become when he embarks on a mini-tour. He’s already booked at Pop Montreal.
"Well, I don’t know if it counts, but I can say I’m playing with Joanna Newsom," he says with a laugh. |
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