Stony Plain
Brent Mason
Independent
1997
10 tracks
Evocative is the one word which comes to mind to describe the words and music of Brent Mason. Listening to Stony Plain, Mason's third CD, is an intriguing experience, evoking a world which only grows more real and complete each time the songs are played. Visual, sensual, and more often than not political, Mason's music is not easy to categorize.
One wonders just how aware Mason is of his antecedents, his musical and poetical influences. Listening to the songs on Stony Plain, one is repeatedly compelled to think: "Now, where have I heard that before?" Sometimes it's the melody, sometimes the poetic flow or form of the lyric, sometimes the presentation, but there are always echoes in the music to evoke other eras and other artists.
Mason fits quite nicely into the pantheon of modern Canadian folk music. At different times his style evokes Bruce Cockburn, Leonard Cohen, Robbie Robertson, Stan Rogers, and others. Less often, the references seem more international, bringing to mind Bruce Hornsby, Bob Seger, Donovan Leitch, Michael Martin Murphy, and even Phil Ochs. To listen is almost psychedelic in the music's lyical and melodic flashbacks to other artists and other times.
"Eyes of Innocents" is the one song on this CD which comes precariously close to lawsuit territory. (Think of the high profile "My Sweet Lord" and "Hello I Love You" lawsuits as examples.) While the subject matter is clearly different and there are bits of music unique to this piece, the overall sound is more than just a bit evocative of Bob Seger's "Turn the Page."
In the high quality of its lyrics, it's sweet melody, and it's arrangement, "Pieces of Time" brings to mind some of the better work of Leonard Cohen. On the other hand, "Snakes and Ladders" is very much in the same vein, musically and lyrically, as the work of Bruce Cockburn in his more rock 'n roll mode, yet still has echoes of Cohen as well, especially in the background harmonies.
"Brave New World" is, on the other hand, a real rocker with a strong (if somewhat cliche) political message. Here, as in several of the other pieces on this CD (although more prominent), the song is punctuated by bursts of fiddle reminiscent of Charlie Daniels just at the point where he crossed over from folk-rock into country.
Brent Mason's problem -- if it is a problem at all -- is that, while an excellent lyricist and songwriter, he is highly eclectic both in his writing and his performance. Pigeonholers at radio stations and record stores may have a serious problem slotting Mason until he finds his own unique voice. When he does, my suspicion is that it will be among the Cohens and Cockburns of this world.
Stony Plain is a CD worth owning if you want to listen to an artist who may be up and coming on the Canadian scene, or if you just enjoy hearing a new and unique Canadian voice coming into its own. Mason also has two previous CD releases: Head for the High Ground and Down to Heaven.
Perhaps the easiest way to learn more about Brent Mason and his music is to go to his web site.
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Review Written: August 28, 1998
Page Last modified: February 14, 2004
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