There are some things in music that all the technological advancements can’t recreate. And live recording an entire album is something from the past that Calgary roots artist Ray Lemelin embraced on his new release Dark/Out of Phase.
Lemelin’s new album is a laidback exploration of love and life lost through smooth trailing acoustic guitar backed by accordion, banjo, and mandolin. Dark/Out of Phase is a collection of songs that are as immersive as a lazy Sunday afternoon.
“Playing the whole album as they did way back in history, where four guys set up in a circle, put up a few mics and just let the songs tell their story. Up close and personal Dark/Out of Phase is a work of the heart about love and life lost and starting over,” says Lemelin about the album, which includes Tim Williams on 6 different stringed instruments, Howard Schmenge Chapman on accordion and of course Bob Richardson on bass.
Lead single “It Really Isn’t Just About Me” is a jangly roots throwback that explore a mental shift to understand that the world is not all about yourself. To break the song out of its traditional roots mold, Lemelin adds a unique spoken word element that his son, Ray Hyphen, contributed that connects the listener to the song’s narrator.
Lemelin has been a touring and performing guitarist for a variety of artists such as Wes MacKay, Lowell Fulson, and Pinetop Perkins. Dark/ Out of Phase is Lemelin’s first solo effort away from being a touring guitarist and leading the full-time band the Manitee Kings. Inspiration for the album came from living in British Columbia and playing out some of the thoughts in his head with long-time friend and collaborator Bob Richardson at Slaughterhouse Studios.
