On La De Da, Joel Plaskett sang about being on the road, writing songs and recording with friends for the love of the process, not for the money. The song “Natural Disaster” is also a song about the security of home in the face of oncoming uncertainty, which is a theme Steve Poltz explores frequently on the Plaskett-produced Dreamhouse (“Wish the Wind” and “Love What You’ve Done with this Place”). This is essentially a companion piece to La De Da, considering Poltz, a Nova Scotian who now lives in the States, has made a road record—also adorned with Rebecca Kratz’s gorgeous woodburn—in Plaskett’s Dartmouth studio. With flourishes of Jenn Grant and Plaskett’s production and guitar work, Dreamhouse is a gorgeously lyrical record. Poltz’s trademark charm and whimsy is here, but there are also more difficult sentiments too (“Dreams #23”, “A Dog in Bosnia”). See Steve Poltz live, May 9-11 at The Carleton.
This article appears in May 6-12, 2010.