Papa M – A Broke Moon Rises

Drag City

It has been about eighteen months since David Pajo‘s return with Highway Songs, but what a transformation that period of time has wrought. As entertaining as that cut and paste of ideas and snippets was it, lacked cohesion and was clearly the sound of a man in flux; unsure of his place in the world or the direction in which his music should be going. In contrast, A Broke Moon Rises is quite possibly the sound of a man in love; not just with life, but with the guitar — and that can only be a good thing for the listener.

The playing on the album feels as if the last few years of uproar are a distant glimmer in the rear view and he has settled on a style of playing and a particular sound that clearly resonates with him. Opener “The Upright Path” is a short taster of what the album has to offer, its circular repetitive motif giving a little nod to “dry bones in the valley”, but with Dave offering a little more humanity to the sound. As that little warm-up gives way, so the joy of “Walt’s” is irresistible. It is warm and laid-back, and you can almost see the beatific look on Dave’s face as the sunset-reflecting slide guitar elements trickle into the ocean, a perfect accompaniment to the main body of the track.

As the album progresses so things become a little more intricate, as if his fingers are being put through their paces, remembering past thrills and allowing themselves the freedom to undertake what the song requires. There is a touch of the band Rex in the pinpoint criss-crossing and mesmeric control of “A Lighthouse Reverie” and the dervish like playing on “Shimmers” somehow sounds like a violin in places.

The album is a marvellous feat that finishes with a thirteen-minute take on Arvo Pärt‘s “Spiegel Im Spiegel”, which I can only describe as the musical equivalent of being in a cosy, warm cabin and watching through the window as snow starts to fall. It is a gentle, constantly moving pattern that evolves through various motifs, somehow already familiar; yet you are aware of the gradual changes, rather like the flurries of snowflakes as the wind picks up or a slight change in the reflected light as the landscape starts to change. It is an idyllic way to leave an album for which it is impossible to outstay its welcome. If anything, the Pärt piece could play on indefinitely and I would be happy. As soon as my first listen ended, I put it straight back on, and caught bits and pieces that had missed the first time.

I don’t expect this will be repeated, but as a line in the sand to say that the future starts here, A Broke Moon Rises couldn’t be improved. I get the feeling that finally, he can sit back on the porch and smile and look forward to his life starting again.

-Mr Olivetti-