See Here

John Powers’ return to a place that bills itself as “Ontario’s West Coast” may not have been the catalyst for his new solo record, See Here, taking on a slight calypso or even bluesy alt-country tinge. But clearly the rural confines of Huron County is a place where the Saskatchewan native can spread his creative wings and craft a beautiful record of sweet harmonies, rich lyrics – both poignant and wonderfully tongue-in-cheek – with inspired and soulful playing throughout. See Here is the follow-up to Powers’ 2007 solo debut, Sustain. The new record also runs the gamut of the multi-instrumentalist’s love for merging genres and styles, but does so as a more unified body of work. "We converted an old chicken barn on our property to an awesome recording studio and creative space. I selected these ten songs from the past few years and got some of my best friends and my family to come and record them with me. I then recruited Canadian folk and blues guitarist and singer Rick Taylor to mix and master them for us," Powers says. The opening track, Comforter, delivers a wonderful island-vibe-meets-cabaret lilt. The title track is an alt-country gem peppered with Clapton-esque licks. These carry through subtly to the subsequent So Fine, whose lush harmonies give way to a reggae-infused sonic sunset. In Graceful Living, Powers skewers a world of false pretenses with a cheeky southern spiritual served on a bed of bluegrass. In the second half of the record, Powers and Co., guitarist Steve Dawe, bassist Frank Dias, and drummer Brad Cassel, break out the heavier guns, starting with a touch of psychedelic “rawk” on Penny Farthing. This track also provided the inspiration for Scott McKowen’s brilliant scratch board faux-pastoral cover art, complete with a sketched Huron County backdrop. The image-within-the-image tableau will suit the larger format album cover nicely, as See Here marks Powers' first foray into vinyl. Next up are two great driving blues numbers in the form of Aware and the ultimate summer roadtrip track, Christopher Says. On the latter, Powers trademark lyrical humour allows a nod at his recent side project as a puppeteer and playwright, as a girl awakes from a dream in which she is turned into a marionette. See Here’s piece de resistance comes via No Shakin’ Allowed, a blistering, hip-shaking takedown of our shameful treatment of the planet that leaves you wondering if Pink Martini have become the new innkeepers of Hotel California and hired Carlos Santana to mind the front desk. Powers then straps his heart to his sleeve in closing things out with Forever Someone, a deeply personal account of meeting “the one” and having a better appreciation of the world for it. Powers harmonizes beautifully with his wife and Yellowbird collaborator, Melina, whose haunting vocals run throughout the record. With See Here, Powers has crafted a wonderful album that will surely be the soundtrack to many a Canadian revelry this summer.