BLOG
Category: Reviews
A short but sweet review by Bryan Bance from Americana UK:
“Unspoken is as bare bones as they come featuring Meister’s deep, gravel-throated singing – think Waits, Hiatt and Dylan on a good day – and nimble, finger-picked acoustic guitar, with some subtle electric guitar and harmonica backing. With no studio trickery to back him up, it’s up to the songs and delivery to handle the heavy lifting and they certainly do. Highlights include the sweet ‘Tiny Bird’ and the slightly more sinister ‘Digging For Gold’ where Meister’s captivating mix of folk and blues are on full display.”
Read the review in AUK Shortcuts here!
Jaks Schuit from Real Roots Café reviews Unspoken, highlighting the guitar playing and darkly poetic storytelling. Noting the “almost minimalist” instrumentation, Schuit continues that “A.P. Meister’s voice, lyrics, and guitar define the sound and substance of the music (…) It’s as if he’s picked up his guitar in the listener’s living room and is giving a solo show.” While remarking that the music might not be the perfect fit for a sunny afternoon, Schuit concludes:
“That dark evening, even a little rainy, will come around again. Then Unspoken is the ideal soundtrack.”
Read the review in Dutch at Real Roots Café here!
Having reviewed Above & Below (2013), valsam at Belgian Rootstime highlights the laid-back and contemplative feel of Unspoken, suggesting that blues, folk, country and a touch of jazz blends into a unique sound.
“The nine songs on Unspoken certainly prove that he remains as gifted a songwriter as ever.”
Read the review at Rootstime (in Dutch) here!
In a first review of Unspoken, Pär Dahlerus at Musikpulsen finds it easy to dream away to the laid-back, guitar-laden music and the singer’s pleasantly raspy voice.
“It’s wonderful to just sink into a safe bubble and drift away listening to this fine album. It offers a moment of tranquility, well needed in today’s fast-paced world.”
Read the review at Musikpulsen (in Swedish) here!
Fine review by Stefan Woldach in one of my favorite publications:
“Waitsian vocals and melodious guitar
‘Harvester’ opens A. P. Meister’s latest offering, ‘Above and Below’. It is a melodic, guitar picking number with drawling, deep vocals which set up the tone of the whole album. Meister is a singer/songwriter who has previously explored a myriad of musical styles but has settled on this bluesy/folk genre which was a love of his from his early years. Lyrically dark and mysterious, he explores his music through guitar, picking and strumming and creating a gentle, restrained sometimes sombre, atmosphere of the smoky bar room of yesteryear.”
Read the whole review on AmericanaUK here!
“Besides blues and ragtime, Meisters songs stand in the tradition of fine fingerstyle folk tunes in the vein of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt. The lyrics draw their inspiration from authors like T. S. Eliot and Jack Kerouac.”
Read the whole article by Stefan Woldach aptly titled “Blues, Bleibendes und Stacheldraht” featured in the “New Scene”-section of German magazine “Akustik Gitarre” (just click on the magazine name below):
Akustik Gitarre 6:09 (pdf)
“For over 60 minutes this man brings us his own version of the blues. (…) In my opinion Meister has made an unusual CD that certainly doesn’t follow any well-trodden paths. For those who love dark-edged acoustic music.”
Read the whole review by Fred Schmale in Dutch at Real Roots Café here (pdf) or click the Review link to the right!
“A. P. Meister doesn’t need much more than his rough deep voice and an acoustic guitar to convince us. Few people come so close to the sombre greatness of Tom Waits when it comes to composition and atmosphere. But he is more than that. You’ll get great pleasure from this album in front of the fireplace these chilly autumn days, in fact, the whole album is like a warm bluesy rootsy embrace.”
Read the whole review by Blowfish in Dutch on Rootstime here (or click the Review link to the right) or go to the Press section on my website for a translation into English!