Dave Burn is a British singer-songwriter and musician who also works with the Americana group ahab. On his EP Medium Dave, he moves away from the group-based work of old and starts to release his own music. Fans of ahab should still enjoy the tracks here, as they still have a folky/Americana vibe, albeit with some slight changes thrown in for good measure.
By Jane Howkins
Never Did Dance opens up nicely with a pretty acoustic guitar melody, showing Dave’s gorgeous folksy sound off well. The vocals soon arrive, drifting in a lovely manner through the track. The lyrics are rather spectacular, full of yearning and emotional longing. The track displays some good songwriting skills and it’s clear that Dave is very skilled at what he does. Some occasional piano motifs can also be heard in the background, adding a nice texture to the tune.
Friend of Mine has a similar vibe, although it’s a little faster in terms of pace. Dave’s vocals have a nice flow as they move through this largely acoustic tune, seeing him reach some lofty heights on the chorus. The verses segue seamlessly into the choruses, keeping your attention throughout. It’s actually quite a beautiful song at times – the electric guitar that appears towards the end adds a nice touch of variety too.
Universe is a little more stripped-down than the previous song, making it sound even more beautiful. I’m a big fan of slow folk songs like this, and Dave manages to add in a powerful sense of Americana to the track, despite being a British artist. The piano accentuates the guitars perfectly, creating some lovely layers within this haunting tune.
Two Steps Behind is perhaps the most Americana song of the lot, due to the electric guitar melody that starts the tune off. It actually makes it sound rather bluesy at times, yet the electric guitar is never overdone. The acoustic guitar still remains the key focus here, elevating Dave’s vocals to another level. The chorus changes things up slightly, showing a slightly higher tone to Dave’s vocals.
In Real Life uses the piano a little more, working well against the acoustic guitar melodies on this track. However, it’s never overpowering, as Dave uses his instruments in quite a subtle way. The lyrics are particularly astounding to behold here, sounding really beautiful as Dave croons his way through the song. It’s one of the stand-outs on this EP.
It’s lovely to see Dave Burn stepping out and doing his own thing, and the tracks on Medium Burn are fantastic to behold. If you like your folk music, this is for you!
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