Album Notes

It's something magical to hear Marco Joachim's latest album. His last album "Changing Times" he revisited Dylan era folk with mostly acoustic arrangements. This time around Marco goes in a new direction with a very musical and whimsical album.

Ear candy abounds from "Songville" with banjos and fiddles, slide and acoustic guitars. It's a return to "The Travelling Wilburys" style of music. From the upbeat opening track mandolin riff to "There" you know you are in for a something special as your tour of "Songville" starts. The catchy and romantic and country fried "Through A Window", flows melodically along as Marco's observances on a train are like a singing novel, and then the rocking "Go Ahead" with "McCartney" style vocals and electric keyboards.
There is a cinematic quality to his songs.

The symphonic Beatlesque "Dream Away" with "Strawberry Fields Forever" melotron flutes has been used tastefully. There's also the classic guitar solo on this beautiful melodic song.

Marco returns to an acoustic song about world disorder as the will to move on and grow through all the madness. Hope manifests itself in the form of "The Cuckoo" not to be confused with the old folk song. "Humpty Dumpty" is an Armageddon political rock out, and then the catchy "A love like This" which evokes the White Album's lighter side. Next is an upbeat acoustic song "Wizard's Ball" with great banjo by Pete Schwimmer. "Ragtop Willie And His Travellin Show" about a medicine show in the old West. The final "The Piper' is a song about today's climate of living with war.

"Songville" is a nice place to visit and possibly even stay. A mythical place between British pop, American acoustic, and country. Joachim's heartfelt vocals and Jon Gordon's musical contributions make this a must buy.

Review by David Carten World Music International