Affirmative responses to recordings with the Lost Doves and his solo EP Shots of Sun have placed Ian M Bailey on a mighty high pedestal. Now, Songs To Dream Along To slides in as the British-based singer, songwriter and multi-faceted instrumentalist’s latest project. This 11-track collection from Kool Kat Musik contains material Bailey co-authored with Daniel Wylie of the Cosmic Rough Riders.
Sometimes you can judge an album by its title, and such is the case with Songs To Dream Along To. Warm and gentle vocals hanging half way between the Byrds and Big Star are chaperoned by heart-melting hooks cloaked in a lustrous sheen. It all makes for a very chill vibe. Articulated lyrics that are easy to digest also costume these fine and fluid tunes.
Set to a mid-tempo rhythm, “This Is Not a Feeling” gets Ian M Bailey’s album going to a wash of jingling guitars, sweet and lovely vocals and whistling organ passages. Ringing licks and blinking keyboards again dominate “Take It or Leave It,” but a bit of a more hypnotic pitch is added to the fixings.
Falsetto harmonies, partnered with light and airy textures accent “Everything Will Be Alright” and “The Best of Me” mixes orchestral arrangements with classic soft-pop sensibilities.
An electrified country folk-rock beat fuels the mesmerizingly catchy “I’m Not the Enemy” and “The Sound of Her Voice” is stunningly beautiful, as it flows freely to a tranquil pace spotted with stirring string work and psychedelic sitars.
Drenched in delicate and detailed melodies, Songs To Dream Along To is a dream come true for those who favor pretty and pristine pop. Ian M Bailey certainly has a knack for composing and playing ear-massaging music that really stands out in the pack.
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