I don’t know whether it was the tacos and chilli dipping sauce on my table, or his self-depreciating humour, that made me warm to Mr Maitland before he had played a note. But from the moment he got on stage to explain he had lost his harmonica this troubadour had the audience, and myself, in the palm of his hand - even if he was too modest to realise it. I was at a concert to showcase his new album, Rumours of a nice day. The opening number, Would You Trade Your Song? set the tone for the evening. Beneath the velvet glove of pretty finger picking, lilting melody and easy refrain, was hidden a gauntlet daring the listeners to change their lives. “If only for a little while,” he encouraged plaintively, understanding our measure. There then followed a collection of deceptively simple songs pondering life and recounting loves lost and found. Much perverse pleasure was to be had in Dan’s company wallowing in the strange nature of this life of ours. Sure the collection is downbeat but it is all sung with a voice as rewarding as malt whisky. Add to that: clever turns of phrase, unexpected chord shifts and a singular perspective on the world and you end up with a thoroughly rewarding night. Take FizzinA1000 for example, a song about a sexy woman he met through a dating site. ‘Will you stimulate my mind too?’ he asks of her wistfully. It was catchy, amusing and telling in its view of himself, and therefore ourselves, without resorting to the arrogance of satire.
Always, one felt the songs were more important than the performer. Sometimes tender, sometime raunchy, Daniel’s voice was always at the service of his compositions - as were the members of the band who accompanied him occasionally. Vibes, bongos, vocals and organ, were disciplined enough to add just what was required to enhance the songs and never distract or detract.
The only danger I perceived was in the music being just too pretty. It did not quite possess the same edge/gauntlet as the lyrics. Call me awkward but I like at least a note of danger in my music. I don’t mean a Van-Halen guitar break but a dissonant trip somewhere along the journey. However, I am sure the ‘easy listening’ quality of it will appeal to a far wider audience.
Clearly whenever you see someone new comparisons with well-known artists enter your head: was he a cynical James Taylor, or an in tune Neil Young, I mused? Was he, Tom Waits with a throat lozenge or Rufus Wainwright with a sense of humility? In the end I realised I didn’t care because, Daniel Maitland was clearly a man with his own unique voice. And in my view, he’s a man well worth watching, and hearing - so keep an eye (and an ear) out for him and his album.