Raintracks is the debut release from this Scots - American singer songwriter, now located in Germany. Kurt draws his inspiration from Irish music, but listeners will also pick up shades of contemporary acoustic rock and a fondness for classic artists such as Dylan, Cohen, Springsteen and more. He describes himself as an amateur cook, learned sociologist, computer nerd, film freak, failed student of philosophy, rotten dancer, determined nice person, ardent eater of meat, translator, underdeveloped guitarist, avid drinker of beer and musician. As a fellow failed sociologist, determined nice person and avid drinker of beer, I hoped I would immediately contact with Kurt's music and happily I did. The 16 songs on the album are slow paced and mellow with reflective and sometimes introspective lyrics. Guitars and mandolin create an organic sounding backdrop to the songs and Kurt shows himself to be a talented and delicate finger picker. The album is gentle and melodious but never falls into the realms of bland easy listening. I've been playing the album for about two weeks now and each time I become more engaged with the songs and drawn into the tapestry like melodies. Take a listen to some sample tracks. You may need to play them a few times, but if you do I hope you will be drawn in too. Kurt says of the it album, it is "just the thing for a rainy day", and listening to it, I understand just what he means. As I write this, the late winter rain is falling on the cobbled streets of my hometown, the dog is asleep on the settee and the outside world is grey. Shielded from the wind and general rush of traffic, it is the ideal soundtrack for an otherwise dull and grey February day.

Auf Kurt Patrick Geiers Erstlingswerk sind ausschließlich eigene Kompositionen zu hören, erstklassig interpretiert von ihm selbst. Trotz der spartanischen Aufnahmetechnik brilliert die CD mit einer ansprechenden Tonqualität. Die 16 Songs erzeugen eine melancholische Stimmung und machen Lust auf eine Tasse Tee, ein gutes Buch und ein Kaminfeuer. Geier singt von der Melancholie des Lebens, dem Genuss des Nichtstuns und den Momenten der Ausgeglichenheit. Er stellt die Zeit in Frage und erlebt sie doch am eigenen Leib, wenn der Winter endlos und die warme Zeit immer viel zu kurz erscheinen. Er erzählt von Beziehungen, Liebe, Schmerz und Langeweile und mit seiner vollen und angenehmen Stimme bringt er den Zuhörer zum Träumen. Sein erstklassiges Gitarrenspiel unterstreicht die Wirkung seiner Texte und seines Gesangs. Geier hat einige hervorragende Songs geschrieben, mit denen er sich durchaus mit international bekannten Songwritern messen kann. „Nothing unknown“ erinnert ein wenig an die melancholischen Stücke des genialen Multitalents Brian Eno. Trotzdem bleibt er jedoch immer authentisch und hat einen bemerkenswerten Stil gefunden. Meine Lieblingslieder sind neben dem mehrstimmig gesungenen „Nothing unknown“ und „Prisonguard“, die von Melancholie beherrschten „Coffee and Chocolate“ und „Inertia“ wie auch die von Beziehungen erzählenden „Tracks“ und „Rubber Duck“. „Raintracks“ ist ein sehr gelungenes Album mit schönen Balladen, wunderbar komponiert arrangiert und gespielt. Kurt Patrick Geiers schöner Gesang lässt den Zuhörer die Zeit vergessen und in einen Zustand von süßer Trägheit verfallen, eben „Inertia“. Weitere Informationen inklusive einige Hörproben unter www.raintracks.com.

Moody and reflective, “Raintracks” is a collection of intelligent and moving tracks. Having often championed the individual effort, it is only fair to point out from the start that “Raintracks” has been crafted single-handily by the one man – Kurt Patrick Geier. Because of this fact, the music has gained an incredible personal touch that easily counters any production criticisms that might arise. That said, “Raintracks” is the type of album that many people will display complete apathy towards – a feeling that is perhaps neatly summated by the track “Inertia”. The combination of slow and gentle music is reminiscent of an acoustic set, rather than a full-blown studio recording - which in all fairness is largely due to most of the production taking place on a PC. Ultimately however, “Raintracks” lacks the energy that will see it receive mainstream attention, which in all probability is not a primary concern or aim for this artist. For some people the placid nature of this release will be a blissful surprise, and it certainly is great relaxation music. Geier’s voice is smooth and soulful, which again, help to carry the passion and personal significance of the lyrics to such tracks as “Claudi’s Song” and “I’m Slow”. “Raintracks” is a beautiful album – but whether this extends towards it being a good album is completely down to individual taste. For many people, the sixteen songs of “Raintracks” will be a bit too much melancholy and not enough all-out celebration. Geier’s songs are in no way a catalogue of sad tales, but even so after listening to this you will be one of three things – upset, relaxed or bored. If you appreciate what could be described as a slower, melancholic and folksy kind of Counting Crows, then this will no doubt be for you.

Kurt Patrick Geier's debut CD is probably not everybody's cup of tea - but anyone who likes slow and gentle music with more than a hint of melancholia to it will like this...a lot. But it's not all sad. Listen to "Coffee and chocolate" or "I'm slow", or even any one of half the songs and you'll realize that though it may sound depressed, the lyrics are actually not always as serious as they seem.