ISU Bengal

Issue date: 2/15/06 Section: Life

Meandering through Canada and the lower 49 this spring-- being better than 'oxygen' is singer-songwriter Willy Mason, promoting his debut album "Where The Humans Eat". Mason's one night stands don't seem to be taking a toll on him (minus the air mattresses) and his rock-n-blues revolution is winning over the fans of KT Tubstall, Death Cab for Cutie and Rilo Kiley just to name a few.

"Where The Humans Eat" is a new sound rich in defiance, righteousness and youth- much like the 20 year old Mason. His melodious voice stays in tone with the messages while the deliberate off notes highlight the feeling. Steady one- two, one-two- three rhythms make the songs listener friendly.

Track one "Gotta Keep Moving" is a swamp water guitar blues serenade that makes short term, long distance love seem appealing. Drummer and younger brother Sam Mason provides the beat for the whole album and "Gotta" announces his strong clean presence. The Mason brothers were born into a folk and blues playing family and grew up in Massachusetts' lush and legendary Martha's Vineyard.

The love drug makes a modern day appearance on track five's "Fear No Pain". This folk inspired goodbye is simple in it's request. "Don't you miss me when I go/ Don't you miss me then/ Just sleep my lady friend/ And wait till Icome home". A mellow subconscious environment runs throughout "Fear No Pain" and is provided courtesy of Mason's guitar distortion. A sprinkling of Bob Dylan flavor makes this track sound familiar.

Distortion of another kind is explored on the albums shortest track "Letter #1" (running time 1:57). This urban clock ticker, hammers out a tale whose roots take hold in an underground dream land, where stinky cigarettes and rancid booze mask the filth of the day.

The best new rock anthem on "Where The Humans Eat" is found firmly in "Our Town". This tune takes a fresh sound approach to being arrested by the 'man' in an incident of mistaken identity-something that actually happened to Mason once in New York City. "Couldn't you see this is no place to be at the wrong time/ You know your not the only one here looking for some at the wrong time/ It's just that look in your eyes/ Your just not quite uptight enough for our town/ And now don't try an fight/ cause we know that we're right/ In our town, our town/".

"Where The Humans Eat" are all one take cuts, recorded in a house in Catskill, New York and produced by engineer Tom Schick. Mason recalls the process for his Astralwerks debut release,

"There was no designated producer, nothing was planned out. It was just a collaboration really between everyone who was in the studio including the dog and the rabbit that were there" says Mason.

Mason will be the opening act for Beth Orton during her March/ April U.S. tour. The tour is making a stop in SLC on March 20, at Club Sound. Best bet: a ticket.

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