Country Music Roundup - A Touch of Irish

Maurice Dickson ' A Year In The Life'

Northern Ireland's Maurice Dickson has been writing and performing his songs for almost 30 years. He has played in rock and blues bands around Belfast before forming his own band in 1976. Three years later he turned professional and continued to learn his trade in Europe and North Africa absorbing the cultures and the rhythms. 'A Year In The Life' features twelve of Dickson's ballades, finely crafted and performed by a voice that is both warm and tender. Maurice is the only musician; playing just whistle and synths he just calls on the backing vocals of Herbie Hancock, Keith Thomson and Matt Coldrick. Though the subject matter may be serious, sometimes extremely, the album is very relaxing. Check out 'Baby Blue', 'War paint and Feathers', 'Texas Pride' and 'Road to Basra' (parts one and two). www.mauricedickson.com

Maurice Dickson:

A Year In The Life Mo Music MO 006CD

BABY BLUE; COLD BLOWS THE WIND; THE GYPSY QUEEN; IN YOUR COMPANY; LADY OF LOVE; WAR PAINT AND FEATHERS; SPREAD YOUR WINGS; TEXAS PRIDE; THE ROAD TO BASRA; SPIRIT OF THE MUSIC; THE JOURNEY

UK singer-songwriter Maurice Dickson blends folk and country in a well thought out manner, giving both parties something to hook onto, the latter will I'm sure, gravitate to the splendid mando-gazooki, fiddle and harmony vocals (Siobhan Skates) warmed 'Spread Your Wings', where the song builds up a good head of steam. 'Texas Pride', the next song on the album it continues on a positive note - suggesting a Steve Earle influence. It works hard too (I think the Texan would also approve of Dickson's two instrumentals entitled, 'The Road To Basra' 1 and 2). Other notable songs included the spare 'The Journey', as his work boasts a likeness to the music of Richard Shindell, the melancholy 'Baby Blue' and with more mando-gazooki and sweet harmonies - 'In Your Company', demonstrating a completely focussed style of singing. These tracks alone suggesting Maurice Dickson is an artist worth checking out, on disk and live.