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Velcro Mary

 

Paul Duncan: Be Careful What You Call Home
[Hometapes]

Paul Duncan’s new release, Be Careful What You Call Home, is nothing shy of gorgeous.  The album is dominated by an eclectic mixture of psychedelic electronic sounds and a solid folk background.  The result is both surprising and familiar.

With a mixture of instrumental and vocal tracks, the overall album is the complete show.  Duncan has blended more traditional instrumental moments with aching violins, minimalist guitars and samples of sounds from everyday life.  Amongst violin, guitar, bass and banjo are sounds of rain hitting a window and electronic static.  The results are complex layers that create simple and accessible music. Adding to the mix are the calming vocals of Paul Duncan.  Duncan delivers the warm feeling of home with the calmness of his voice.  With songs that stir up nostalgia, the album seems able to touch most anyone.  For me, I found a particular fondness for the pace of “You Look like an Animal” and for the dominant bass line in “Toy Bass.”  As Duncan’s compositions vary from experimental electronic to something far more traditional in the track “This Old House,” the breadth of his talents in this one short album is striking.  Each track blends seamlessly throughout the album, creating a beautiful experience from beginning to end.

Be Careful What You Call Home is a beautiful compilation to stumble upon.  This album is a must for anyone who appreciates the sense of calm reflection so rarely heard in music today.  Duncan has truly created something special.

This artist begs the question: with great weeds like these, who even needs legitimate plants?

-Chelsea Cochran
12/12/05

Check Amazon, Insound and CD Universe to purchase this album.

Paul Duncan Official Website

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