Emerging from a spell in Ontario’s Cuff the Duke, Dale Murray is back east enriching the scene here. Much as his sparkling solo debut, Brighter Lives, Darker Side in 2005 marked life after The Guthries, Dream Mountain Dream may offer surprises to those who know Murray from his bands. Pedal steel, his chief asset to date, is less prominent, making way for other skills. A distinctive reverb on the vocal and layers beneath it set the table for his songs. A standout is “Life Moves,” a rich twist on the Beatles’ “Fool on the Hill.” The album is easy on the ears and continuously rewarding.
This article appears in Apr 5-11, 2012.
