Slow Leaves - Shelf Life (2020)

Slow Leaves aka Grant Davidson, songwriter from Winnipeg, Canada, is not only an attentive observer of his environment but also a romantic poet and thus everyday events become lyrics that let you look deep into the soul of the artist. In addition, he is an extremely talented guitarist and songwriter and so the 10 songs on his new album Shelf Life are little everyday escapes that - without wanting to set the bar too high - remind us of Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, Pernice Brothers or Fred Neil

Each of the 10 mostly live recorded songs is an invitation to discover and participate in the world of the artist. In the words of the artist: "Shelf life is a record about growing up to realize you are not the person you thought you would be. It is a collection of songs that wades between tides of past and present, success and failure, things lost and things found". Even its predecessor Enough About Me (2027) was a wonderfully ironic self-reflection and was praised accordingly

The album was recorded with friends like Rusty Matyas (Weakerthans), Damon Mitchell (New Meanies) and Rejean Ricard (Telepathic Butterflies). As a matter of course every musician subordinates himself to the big picture, joins in and so you can feel the original charm of the songs and it remains a familiar, almost anachronistic feeling as it was inherent in many great albums of the 70s

Shelf Life is a wonderful contrast to all the ego swagger, an island of reflection in the storm of vanities and simply a damn good album that can do more than it wants to at first sight.