SUMMER STORM | A collection of ukulele ditties by Daniel Gannaway

Recording for the first time without guitar, Daniel's lilt on the ukulele and his trademark evocative lyrical content creates a distinct and fully-formed sound which is a journey in itself. Mixing Hawaiian references throughout - particularly in the environmental song No Mall At Sharks Cove, earlier released as an overnight recording in support of Friends of Sharks Cove (a Hawaiian Nonprofit Organization) - with social observation and personal insight (tipping his hat to political writer/ filmmaker Michael Moore in the cynically stated A Just Senator), Daniel combines his eclectic influences to deliver an album of light, frangipani-laced airiness and incisive, resonating cultural insight.

Set against this background, Daniel has welcomed back his darling one year contributors, Michael Brennan (Phonoss/the Stung/kidameln/the Feds/7 dials) on bass and Stan Leboy (theNOWawol/kidameln) on drums/ keyboards & loops. Together, the trio has created a warm, optimistic and cohesive album. Further, with the release based around the uniquely evocative ukulele, Summer Storm is an album unlike anything you'd expect.

Summer Storm is a welcome new chapter in this talented singer-songwriter's ongoing story.

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Many times, an album has been sparked by an artist's discovery/rediscovery of a new or unusual instrument, and sometimes it's worked (Todd Rundgren's A Capella experiment of the human voice as every instrument) and just as many times it hasn't. This is one of those times where it really works. New Zealand-based indie rocker Daniel Gannaway constructed this somewhere-between-EP-and-LP-length collection on a simple premise: every song would feature the ukelele in some fashion. (Yes, you read right, the ukelele.) Recorded in NZ and Hawaii, Summer Storm takes that premise, and the instrument itself, through several permutations, and it all manages to work, largely thanks to Gannaway's reliable gifts in the songwriting department. Oddly enough, and this isn't a crack about originality or the lack thereof, the ukelele's role here reminded me of the shock value of the mandolin as a lead instrument in R.E.M.'s Losing My Religion. It's front and center on every song, though the tone of the songs shifts from light and breezy (Across The Sea, which reminded me curiously of early, pre-electric Split Enz) to more straight-ahead rock (Talking Story, which was the song that made me think of the Losing My Religion comparison in the first place), with stops at several stylistic destinations in between. Someone's clearly having fun putting the ukelele through its paces, though again, the songs are the key - they're all good enough on their own, unusual arrangements or not, to stand up. But any preconceptions you have about the ukelele in terms of strumming away at old tropical island tunes may not stand up after you hear this one - in a few places, it's some real rock 'n' roll. If you're in the mood for something different, this is some good stuff.

Reviewed by Earl Green

theLogBook

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Singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway shows the ukelele in an inspiring new light with his sixth solo outing. Written and recorded here and in Hawaii the eight tracks are a rewarding journey for a Sunday afternoon with their folk/indie-rock style, supported with delicate use of electronic synths and loops. The innocence and simplicity of the primary instrument, the ukelele, provides the distinct back-drop for the Hawaiian laid-back lifestyle and certainly creates that picture perfect aesthetic over the album. But within the evocative and convincing vocal delivery Gannaway will allow you to feel the Hawaiian sunshine or push you into darker personal, cultural and social insights with thought provoking vocal harmonies and melodies. The great aspect of the album is that each song's arrangement maintains a minimalistic nature, which shows a discipline and a depth of understanding on Gannaway's part. Underneath the ukelele, the cruising drums and harmonic supporting bass grooves provide an all around easy and easily recommendable listen.

Reviewed by Kent Walsdorf

NZ Musician Magazine

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Daniel Gannaway makes pretty and beguiling music comprised of ukulele playing and other more ambient elements. It is also subtly political at the same time. If you listen to tracks like “No Mall At Sharks Cove,” for instance, which rails against the proliferation of McDonald’s restaurants, mini-malls and the like, it’s obvious that Gannaway is angered over the way places of scenic beauty are often spoiled by a quest for the almighty dollar.

It’s impossible to neatly categorize Gannaway’s music. The title track, for instance, begins with a kind of Chinese music feel to it, whereas “A Just Senator” is slightly jazzy. Most all of these tracks include the severely underused ukulele, as well. Gannaway sings with a clear vocal tone, although he sounds ragged and drowsy during “Silver Lining.” It’s nearly impossible to tell that he’s a New Zealander. At least until the way he pronounces the word “heaven” on “In Heaven” gives his roots away.

Much like Gannaway’s home country, this music is an exotic, faraway place in relationship to the rest of the overall modern musical landscape. Nevertheless, these unique Gannaway sounds offer a pleasant getaway.

Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh

Indie Music

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It's nice, during Splendid's final days, to review the sort of record whose appearance on these pages really differentiates this site from other music-reviewing sites. New Zealand-based singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway is the sort of guy that readers outside of New Zealand have probably never heard of -- unless they read Splendid.

Summer Storm is, as its subtitle suggests, an album built upon the small, frequently tinny, altogether unassuming sounds that Gannaway can choke out of a ukulele. His interest in the instrument will inevitably lead listeners to compare his work to that of Stephin Merritt, whose love for the uke has made it a mainstay of Magnetic Fields and 6ths albums for more than a decade. However, the two artists' use of the instrument couldn't be more different. Merritt tends to bring on the ukes for songs that need to sound quiet, resigned and sad, or tracks that should sound whimsical and bouncy. Gannaway's ambition for the tiny, four-stringed guitar is far grander -- it's the central instrument on every track, expressing sarcastically delivered outrage ("A Just Senator") and moody, Mark Eitzel-style happy-sadness ("Summer Storm"). It holds its ground amid drum-tracking, piano plinking and bass guitar throbbing ("In Heaven"). Of course, Gannaway also uses it in more traditionally ukulele-friendly contexts -- whistles-and-hopefulness opener "Across The Sea", for example -- and in spite of his ambition, these are some of Summer's strongest efforts. "Across The Sea", in fact, only stumbles when the chorus intrudes with a too-heavy keyboard line and an inexplicable time-signature/key change.

Gannaway's songs are generally well-written and entertaining, and he seems to have approached the album's ukulele focus as a framing restriction, rather as a poet will adopt a classic poem form in order deliberately to give focus and structure to his work. As a result, Summer Storm is an intriguing outing, neither overly precious nor excessively novelty-oriented.

Reviewed by Brett McCallon

Splendid Magazine

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Albums by kiwi [NZ] indie singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway:

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2006 - OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political

2005 - SUMMER STORM | A collection of ukulele ditties

2004 - darling one year

2002 - BOOTLEGGED AT THE 12 BAR CLUB [released 2006]

2001 - Bound and Suburban

2000 - Bootlegged at the Temple

1999 - flashback*

1998 - FINE BY ME

http://www.cdbaby.com/all/danielgannaway

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More truly independent releases:

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2006 - ELECPHONIC

2004 - kidameln - the kidameln lo-fi

http://www.cdbaby.com/group/trulyindependent

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truly independent has kidameln's debut & Daniel's first 3 albums in the CD Baby $5 Specials!

This means that if you buy these four albums [the kidameln lo-fi, FINE BY ME, flashback* & Bootlegged at the Temple] together in one purchase, the price per album will drop to $5. You'll get all 4 for only $20!!!

These albums contain classic Daniel Gannaway songs like Sarah, Daisy, Zebra Crossing, Rest, Midnight's Gone, Avenues, Your Winning Way, A French Girl, and kidameln classics like 'I'm in', 'See me smiling' Hey ho' & Circles, just to name a few...

As always, thank you for supporting truly independent music.

http://www.cdbaby.com/group/trulyindependent

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truly independent recommends a newly recovered live gem of Daniel:

BOOTLEGGED AT THE 12 BAR CLUB

[11 Songs - Solo Acoustic - London - April 2002]

@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway8

Recorded live in an intimate little venue in the centre of London – the 12 Bar Club – Daniel’s vocal range and delicate guitar, sometimes complimented by harmonica, are collected surprisingly well and make for a beautifully meandering compilation.

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Daniel's latest album:

OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political

@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway7

"Documenting many of Daniel's previously unrecorded songs of environmental, social and political importance, OP-ED is an inspired compilation of acoustic material on guitar and ukulele - all recorded in Hawaii during February of 2006."

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truly independent recommends Daniels popular ukulele album:

SUMMER STORM | A collection of ukulele ditties

@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway6

"Written and recorded in Hawaii and New Zealand, Summer Storm - Daniel's sixth solo outing - references laidback island life with the ukulele's nylon strings, while wrapping it up in the kind of dynamic folk/indie-rock/electronic feel..."

"...like Gannaway's home country, this music [SUMMER STORM] is an exotic, faraway place in relationship to the rest of the overall modern musical landscape. Nevertheless, these unique Gannaway sounds offer a pleasant getaway" - Indie-Music.

"...The great aspect of the album [SUMMER STORM] is that each song's arrangement maintains a minimalistic nature, which shows a discipline and a depth of understanding on Gannaway's part. Underneath the ukelele, the cruising drums and harmonic supporting bass grooves provide an all around easy and easily recommendable listen..." - NZ Musician Magazine

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Also highly recommended: darling one year

@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway5

"...A perfect blend of lyrics, emotion and rhythm...If your looking for some refreshing new music for the soul, I whole-heartedly recommend darling one year as a must have for your collection." - AllAboutSurf.com

"...Down to earth and laid back, it has none of the musical tension of trying too hard or the injection of false emotions. Suburban folky and bohemian chic, it [darling one year] ties up agreeably layered and distorted vocals into an angst-ridden, quirky pop as catchy as The Strokes but easily as mysteriously engaging as James Keenan Maynard..." - Indie-Music.com

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Daniel's music is available from such online digital providers as:

http://www.Mp3tunes.com/DanielGannaway

AudioLunchbox; Apple iTunes Music Store; Rhapsody; Napster; BuyMusic; Emusic; Sony Connect...

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CafePress Stores Now Open!

http://www.cafepress.com/danielgannaway

http://www.cafepress.com/kidameln

http://www.cafepress.com/trulyindie

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Lyrics to songs on 'SUMMER STORM' below.

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Track 01 - Across the sea

Oh my love

You're so far away

Waiting in those islands

Across the sea

I can't wait

I can't wait

To see you my love once more

To see you my love once more

To see you my love once more

To see your happy face

Loving embrace

You're in my arms again

Oh my love

You're so far away

I'll soon make that journey

Across the sea

I can't wait

I can't wait

To see you my love once more

To see you my love once more

To see you my love once more

To see your happy face loving embrace

You're in my arms again

So I'm singing this song to close the distance

So I'm singing this song to close the distance

So I'm singing this song to close the distance

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005

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Track 02 - In heaven

In heaven

It rained all night the paths afloat

In heaven

Palm fronds fell that wind so strong

In heaven

Outer reefs broke that giant surf

In heaven

Center of the storm the lagoon was calm

In heaven

In heaven

In heaven

Razorbacks plunge that windward edge

In heaven

A sea haze lifts over valleys and cliffs

In heaven

In heaven

In heaven

In heaven

In heaven

Red dirt stains all manner of things

In heaven

The trades resume and the sun will soon

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005

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Track 03 - Doug's little love shack

Doug's little love shack on the North Shore

Made for one to have fun there's room for one more

A short walk to Pipeline watch the surfers ride

Their skill and their daring is a dream for you and I

At Doug's little love shack

At Doug's little love shack

Love shack

Love shack

At Doug's little love shack on the North Shore

When the giant swells break you really hear them roar

The ground shakes the trees sway the coconuts fall

Whitewater on the beach path will wake you if you snore

At Doug's little love shack

At Doug's little love shack

Love shack

Love shack

Shack of love

At Doug's little love shack on the North Shore

There's so much aloha you'll stay forever more

But if you start a family you'll have to add a room

Doug's little love shack's made for one plus you

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005

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Track 04 - No mall at Sharks Cove

Give them an inch and

Well they'll take a mile

Turn a cinema into McDonalds

Say 'Oh how did that happen last night?'

Now say hello to McRonald

If we want country

Let's keep it country

If we want town

Let's go to town

We don't need any mall in Sharks Cove

We've already got enough of them sharks around

Swimming around

They'll ask twice as much so

They get just what they want

When we compromise

Let them make a start

Soon more buildings

Will be popping up

'Till we won't recognise country

And we wish they'd stop

If we want country

Let's keep it country

If we want town

Let's go to town

We don't need any mall in Sharks Cove

We've already got enough of them sharks around

Swimming around

Developing it up like hell

Like Hell

If we really need to go Oahu's got Costco

Ala Moana in Honolulu

Do we really need more parking lots in paradise?

We want real progress then let's preserve this place

If we want country, let's keep it country

If we want town, let's go to town

We don't need any mall in Sharks Cove

We've already got enough of them sharks around

Swimming around

Swimming around

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005

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Track 05 - Talking story

Sunny days we're all hanging out

The wireless gets the news around

I heard this but you heard it like that

A ninth hand version so let's add our own twist to it

Pretty soon

All of us we're talking story

Recounting with updated theory

Animating all the glory

Giving us more than story

Sunny days we're all hanging out

Remembering what being young was like

Some things just get better with age

Some are better read from memory's page

Pretty soon

All of us we're talking story

Recounting with updated theory

Animating all the glory

Giving us more than story

More than story

Talking story

Sunny days we're all hanging out

Exchanging views on what life is about

Maybe there's nothig more to it

Than taking time to share for enrichment

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005

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Track 06 - Silver lining

You're floating off up into the sky

You're now looking for that silver lining

You're floating off up into the sky

You're now looking for that silver lining

I think you've found it

You're floating beyond my reach of site

I can see a hint of silver in the light

You're floating beyond my reach of site

I can see a hint of silver in the light

I think you've found it

I think that you've found your silver lining

I think you've found it

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005

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Track 07 - A just senator

You're a just senator

Hypocrisy is not your fare

You're sending your children off to war

Just like those of the middle class and those of the poor

You agree with this it's democratic and fair

Your children proudly serving over there

You're a just senator

Hypocrisy is not your fare

You're sending your children off to war

Just like those of the middle class and those of the poor

You serve the government but as a parent you care

That they don't die for lies while they're over there

You're a just senator

Hypocrisy is not your fare

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005

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Track 08 - Summer storm

Summer storm on the horizon

Rolling in across the ocean

I see that rainbow bringing pennies from heaven

So here we stand on the edge of the land

Watching earth move while holding hands

I see that rainbow bringing pennies from heaven

Pennies falling raining on the ground

I'm so happy that I'm here with you now

Make a wish

Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/Apra © 2005

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