Vancouver-based musician Pennan Brae impresses with Paint, a vibrant seven-track release that fuses classic rock, funk, and country-tinged charm into a warmly eclectic palette. Anchored by the unmistakable presence of legendary drummer Steve Ferrone and enriched by contributions from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s Cameron Wilson and a local horn trio, the album blends ’70s and ’80s rock influences with fresh studio craftsmanship shaped at Blue Light Studio with producer Kaj Falch-Nielsen.
Opening the album with rousing charisma, “It Ain’t Perfect But It’s Free” combines appreciative, confident lyrical prowess and brass-forward allure — venturing from debonair undercurrents into effervescent punctuating bursts. The ensuing “Girl In The City” achieves a more smitten jangly pop character, enamoring in its dual-vocal harmonizing and sense of adoration — excelling in the soaring “to the moon” delights, particularly. La-la-ing vocals end it with infectious, colorful charm.
“Take Me Back” continues the album’s strong start, pairing punchy rock immediacy and string-touched emotion with seamless entrancement. Wordless backing vocal harmonies and heart-tugging strings prove especially replay-inducing past the one-minute turn and into an ELO-esque bridge as the two-minute turn approaches. Paint continues to delight in its immersive songcraft throughout, from the organ-charged rock invigoration of “Do What You Do” to spirited brass-rock finale “Synergy (With Horns),” showing shades of Parklife-era Blur in its aesthetical blend. Paint is a stirring success of an album from Pennan Brae.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
