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Press
When debating how to approach this
text, during the concert given by the winners
of Proyecto Demo 2008, enough
superlatives came to mind that I could
fairly be labelled OTT.
Dani Poveda is a great pop composer, who is able to look at his idols squarely in the face, delve into the soul of their songs and come up with music which, whilst arguably failing to
bring out anything overly remarkable,
sounds classic and emphatic at all times.
He knows that postmodernism is a
choice, not an obligation, and that piano
arrangements à la Bacharach and a good
string section can still be a song’s best
friend.
The exultant vitality of the young
band’s performance brought to mind a
less highfaluting Decemberists, or an
Americanized version of Belle & Sebastian,
and they succeeded in raising both
the bar and the roof, taking their well constructed songs out of the studio and
onto a whole new level.
They even gave us a lovely rendition of Neil Young’s “Only love can break your heart”, which, as they happily informed us, will be included on PIAS’s forthcoming re-release of their debut album. All the evidence points to
good times for these Gentle Music Men.
You should have seen their faces at the
end of the concert. - International Festival of Benicassim
Discography
Gentle Music Men - Self released -2007
Gentle Music Men - [PIAS] Spain - 2008
Cuentos Modernos - [PIAS] Spain - 2010
Photos
Bio
Gentle Music Men is the new project of Dani Poveda, whose career started as the singer and guitarist of Flint (beep-beep records). After two years working on it, the summer of 2007 finally found the suited musicians for this new adventure in Gentle Music Men: Miquel Tello, David Charro, Elisabet Barrau and Pau Albà.
Sweet melodies and subtle arrangements characterize the style of this band from Vilanova i la Geltru (Barcelona), based on the delicate voice and acoustic guitar from Dani to compose their songs. The noble ornaments that involve them, emerge from the undeniable talent of the musicians that play with him: the Beatles influence in Miquels lines, the subtlety in the arrangements of David Charro, the style with Paus sticks and the delicacy of Elizabeth violins.
Dani Poveda has begun to write his own musical map in "Le Güertal II," his study, where technology captures and stores his new way. There germinates Gentle Music Men. There Dani plays with good cards: three kings and two queens, musicians who find the game master, these melodies that intersect past and future, the refrain that crimps with our lives and stay, mild and intense.
From that youthful power pop (Flint) rescues the substantive and makes it grow with the fall sunshine. Without fear. Gentle Music Men follow the road from Ron Sexmith to The Beatles, from the Zombies to Josh Rouse, of all those who charted a map of sentimental pop, where they were lucid and sensitive and gave pleasure to the adolescence of our souls.
After a crazy year 2008 where the band played at the most important festivals in Spain (International Festival of Benicassim, Primavera Sound, Faraday...) they're back with a second album simply amazing, "Cuentos Modernos" is called to be one of the most important albums in 2010.
There is no other way. Be Gentle.
www.myspace.com/gentlemusicmen
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