Artist: Mark Berube

Website: www.markberube.com

CD: What The River Gave The Boat

Record Label: Kwalu Records

Publicity: Killbeat Music

Reviewed By: Christopher Williams

4 1/2 Stars 

I have just added a whole star to this review and for good reason, Mark Berube’s fourth album What The River GaveThe Boat seems to be a multi-layered task force of sound and soul. Initially the first three tracks ‘Cloudy Day,’ ‘Pretty Little Bird’ and ‘Cowboys’ are reminiscent of The Gothic Archies. I half expected to hear some of Friendly Rich and the Lollipop People riffs at times, but even though the first three quirky songs were upbeat with accordion playing and playfulness What The River Gave The Boat took a dramatic turn for the tracks ‘Tomorrow,’ ‘Yebo Mama,’ and ‘Alarms’ which were heart wrenching and simply gorgeous. These tracks were full of delicate piano playing paired with soul enriching lyrics. I’ve added these two tracks to my IPod and I listen to them continuously. 

As What The River Gave The Boat rowed on (sorry I had to pun!) ‘Old Berlin,’ ‘War Without An End’ and ‘Running Away’ still possessed the socially conscious lyrics but had a somewhat romantic appeal to the music. Berube’s talent lies within these tracks about the world and its broken and tattered heart; you can hear that he is trying to get the blood flowing again to that heart with his bare hands through his emotive lyrics and composition. Which, by the way, the composition for some of these songs is harrowing and sensual and worthy of a philharmonic performance on its own.

Mark Berube is part of The Fugitives, a spoken word performance group heralding from Vancouver. This appears to be a solo project for Berube, but The Fugitives are also a great group, so track them down as an extension of your search for Mark Berube’s music.  

Berube tickles the ivory’s like his fingers are feathers dropping on each key. Then, as if all of this U2 conscious lyrics, symphonic composition and ivory tickling wasn’t enough, the last track ‘Barber Shop’ is spoken word! Who doesn’t love spoken word! OK, well maybe a few people, but I am not one of them.  What The River Gave The Boat is a great addition to anyone’s music library as it is thought-provoking, romantic at times, playful at others and always beautiful.  

Cloudy Day

Pretty Little Bird

Cowboys

Tomorrow

Yebo Mama

Alarms

Old Berlin

War Without An End

Running Away

Barber Shop