Posted on: October 4, 2007 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Chip Raman – Edge of a Song / 2007 Rosebud / http://www.chipraman.com /

It has been quite a while since a straight-forward chap with a guitar sounded this was. Individuals will hear a lot of the sixties (Neil Young, Bob Dylan) in Raman’s style. Obviously, Young or Dylan never said anything about opening up their Nokia, but the style of Raman is unmistakenly influenced by these two giants of rock. “The Post It Note” discusses a phone conversation between Raman and god, and this track only becomes more impressive when Raman modifies his vocals to achieve a higher register.

Where a number of the recordings created by the aforementioned masters are beginning to show their age, Raman’s recordings on “Edge of a Song” have an attachment to today’s listener. This will mean that fans of all ages, of any conception of “rock music”, will find something that they like on Raman’s “Edge of a Song”. “Edge of the Wind” adds a little more to Raman’s sound in the inclusion of a piano and bongo-like set of drums. These different constructs diversify Raman’s sound, and this allows for Raman to move in a Scarecrow and Tinman-like sound. I would be surprised if “Edge of the Wind” does not have a second life as a radio hit. It has everything, from intelligent chord progression to a second set of vocals and even still has time to go and make an infectious chorus. “Bustin’ Outta Here” starts slowly and draws forth recollections of an earlier American folk style. While the vocals decidedly take a different tack than the instrumentation would indivate, the meshing together of these two traditions is a sight to behold. The production of the songs on “Edge of a Song” is perfect.

It is laissez faire enough to allow the nuances of Raman’s sound to shine, but is close enough to cradle the compositions and really imbue them with that something extra. Unlike many of the singer songwriters that are making a living in the current period, Raman actually wants to change the world with each and every one of his tracks on “Edge of a Song”. In this, I see a lot of Phil Ochs and Pete Seeger in Raman. The tracks have a tremendous replay value, and hopefully this album will be enough to draw ever-increasing crowds to those dates when Raman plays live. I know I will be keeping my eye on this shining star, and hoping that all the right things happen to him.

Top Tracks: Bustin’ Outta Here, The Post It Note

Rating: 7.0/10

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