Old Man River - GoodMorning

Sun 11th Mar, 2007 in Music Reviews

Ironically, it is as summer draws to a close that the perfect soundtrack for sun-drenched beachy days, windows-down cruising and lazy Sunday beer sessions is released.  Old Man River’s debut LP is positively sunny, emanating warmth through impossibly cheery lyrics and joyful melodies. 

Old Man River, singer-songwriter Ohad Rein, couples his honeyed voice and acoustic guitar with occasional sitar-driven psychedelia to great effect.  Rein even manages to wax lyrical about following your dreams and the all-conquering power of love without sounding like a daggy after-school special.  Lyrics like “Dreams can come true, it might happen even to you, as long as you keep on believing” on track five, Believe It, could have easily plunged into cliché.  It is Rein’s obvious honesty and integrity as a song-writer that saves Good Morning from sappiness.

A burst of laughter at the start of opening track Sunshine kicks off the album in suitably smiley style.  Handclaps, the aforementioned sitar, a cowbell and backing vocals from Gelbison’s Edo and Nadav Kahn combine to create an uplifting, summery song with an Indian-inspired edge.

The beautiful Wedding Song, track six, is a sweet and simple lover’s serenade.  An utterly content-sounding Rein is at his sentimental best and is accompanied only by gentle acoustic guitar and the delightful voice of Hiroe Takai on backing vocals.

The boisterous L.A. follows and is one of the album’s standout tracks.  Rein’s jaunty piano and vocals are backed joyfully by what is aptly described in the liner notes as a ‘drunken choir’ who add a jovial community flavour to the song. 

Other album highlights include the country-tinged Summer, the slower-paced Time, and track eight, Long Way from Home, a gorgeous piano ballad wishing a traveller a safe and happy journey.

Ohad Rein, under the guise of Old Man River, has been compared to such artists as Nick Drake, Badly Drawn Boy and Beck but has a musical flavour all  his own.  His long-awaited full length release Good Morning is simple and sweet without being sappy, and leaves the listener with a beaming smile and warm heart.