Timothy Luke Dawson - Old Lovers

Timothy Luke Dawson

Old Lovers
self-released; 2016

​4.0 out of 5

​By Ted Rogen

Timothy Luke Dawson has toured all over with various folk, song, metal and improvised music outfits but only recently came out with with his own solo release entitled Old Lovers. This four- song EP has its roots in folk and combines gorgeous acoustic instrumentation like banjo and acoustic guitar with exceptional vocal harmonies. The production is beautiful on the EP and actually something that sets it apart from a more standard idea of folk. 

Take for instance the opener “In the Meantime” which has subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, production elements at work. There is a dense layer of reverb and an effect of some sort that makes the music sound ethereal and angelic at points. It’s unique because a lot of good folk music feels like it comes from the soil of the earth in a very organic way. This song does start off that way but somewhere along the way it feels otherworldly. The lyrics are ambiguous, interpretive and original. Dawson sings, “I'm on minimum wage / And cheesy schemes / Play my heart out  / Til’ I'm broken.” This is a great song.

Up next is “Walk With Me” which is another impressive song. The strings are just fantastic and flow over you like a wave of serenity. It has a calming effect yet is also very engaging. “Pale Jean Blue” is a little more melancholy but a well deserved change in pace. The song could have arguably been fleshed out a little more with a more identifiable hook but it's just a matter of taste. 

Dawson closes with “Old Lovers” which feels like the most traditional folk song of the batch. The back porch guitar picking doesn’t give way to the otherworldly feel he opts for on the opener. That being said the song is perhaps the highlight with a memorable vocal performance. The lyrics “Old lovers / Taking me one by one / Old lovers / Carry me on carry me on / Old lovers /Leave me alone leave me alone” get stuck in your head in a good way. 

​This is a great EP from beginning to end but it did feel like an appetizer. Dawson has some talent and here's hoping to hear some more from him in the not too distant future.