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review by Bill Binkelman This is the second recording from keyboard artist KevOz (a.k.a. Kevin Osborne) containing older songs that never saw the light of day (the other being Lakefront). While Canvas doesn't hit as many high points as Lakefront, there are still a few songs here that display Osborne's strong ability to craft pop-like new age music hooks, composing songs that blend accessible melodies, catchy refrains, and bouncy rhythms. However, as he did in a few spots on Lakefront, he allows the drums to overpower the melody at times (especially with snares). Also, some of the songs simply don't work as well here, either because the refrains/melodies are less memorable or because the song's mood seems out of step with the rest of the album. For example, "Run To Her" hews too close to a quasi-'50s ballad tempo and sound for my taste (I can almost see couples dancing "the stroll" to this tune). "Coming Home" is simply too raucous for my taste and Osborne's choice for the keyboard playing the lead melody fares poorly. There were, however, some specific tracks that I enjoyed. "One Chance" is the lively opening cut, building from a quiet prelude into a high-energy mixture of sampled guitars and trap kit drums (with that unfortunate overly-loud snare), and featuring some nice digital piano and synth work during the bridge. Then there's the bouncy synth-pop "Dancing Shadows" which makes excellent use of Ray Lynch-like keyboards (the same kind of trademark sound Lynch used on Deep Breakfast and No Blue Thing. "If Only" has lots of snappy beats and a cheerful, sunny, almost tropical feel to its keyboards and rhythms. On balance, I can't recommend Canvas, or at least not with the same degree of confidence that I did with Lakefront. It has its merits, and Osborne certainly has talent. But there's more than a few instances where I felt my hand move toward the "skip" button on my CD player. Nothing on here is amateurish or flat out "bad," but there is definite room for improvement. Based on more recent work by Osborne, I think he already recognizes this and has moved in the right direction. Hopefully, newer recordings will allow his strengths to win out over his weaknesses. |
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