IN REVIEW: Dan Mangan - "More or Less"

Dan Mangan's fifth album draws influence from a wide variety of sources, but perhaps none more so than family life. The father of two strips some of his arrangements back on More or Less, leaving many songs to stand on a bare frame; at times, the results feel a little slight (as in the very hushed but otherwise fine Lay Low), but more often than not this approach allows for direct, honest and starkly charming songs.

"Simple and effective" isn't the entire name of the game (although sparsely arranged tracks like Just Fear and Which Is It are very, very effective); by times, more sound creeps into the proceedings, calling to mind Radiohead at their turn-of-the-century electro-renegade best (Peaks & Valleys, Can't Not and Never Quiet wear this particular influence most plainly). Perhaps the album's most thrilling section, however, is its midpoint; Cold in the Summer rides an easy groove and a bright melody down Father John Misty Avenue, while Troubled Mind, a swift and timely rocker that's a showcase for Mangan's voice and knack for hooks, absolutely bursts from the speakers. The trifecta of near sonic perfection concludes with Fool for Waiting, a piano-punctuated ballad that's heartfelt and stunning.

Though some will no doubt hope that it had a bit more spring in its step, More or Less acts as an accurate snapshot of Canadian life; there's solitude, darkness and tension, but also hope, honesty and lots of open space. It's a genuine record, and one that should cement Dan Mangan as one of this country's most revered singer/songwriters.

November 2, 2018 • Arts & Crafts
Highlights Just Fear • Troubled Mind • Fool for Waiting