[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts music review of Black Dog String Quartet’s “A Thousand Times Brighter” album release.
Vancouver-based Black Dog String Quartet are an astonishing group of musicians…truly.
What a gorgeous album. Fully of beautiful strings, folky, bluesy, poppy songs with warm, fluid vocals all wrapped up in classical, evocative arrangements.
It’s all a bit magical…these incredible musicians and their lovely voices singing songs about the ocean, the rain, love and aching and human connection. If this doesn’t renew your hope in humanity post covid I don’t know what will.
The whole album is dreamlike. But not in a sappy way…more like moving through the best most beautifully composed dreams you’ve ever had.
The tracks are poignant, significant, buoyant and bold. Irrepressibly cinematic, they move from one kind of landscape to another effortlessly. Taking the listener on a journey through the natural landscapes of Vancouver and beyond.
But it’s also fun. The songs are catchy and sea chanty like in places. Old folk song like in others and with a strong modern thread, the strings relentless when romantic or striding. It’s all very sexy….
It feels like the kind of music you might take with you on a long journey when you’re not sure when or if you will ever return, to remind you of the places and the people you love.
NASA should take a copy on the new moon mission. I honestly love this album. It’s some of the best music I have heard this year so far and I’m on a bit of a mission myself now…to share Black Dog String Quartet with the world. Or at least everyone I know!
“A Thousand Times Brighter” makes me feel exactly that! It’s gorgeous and a gift we should all treasure…love, love, loved it.
Favorite track?? I couldn’t possibly pick one, but If I must it would be “Two” oh and “Thompson.”
Follow Black Dog String Quartet:
Official Website: blackdogstringquartet.com
Facebook: facebook.com/blackdogstringquartet
Instagram: instagram.com/blackdogquartet
Youtube Channel: @blackdogstringquartet9867
Artist Contact Email: elysetheviolinist@gmail.com
Musicians/Instruments:
Elyse Jacobson, violin | Molly MacKinnon, violin | John Kastelic, viola | Doug Gorkoff, cello (with John Kastelic, Chelsea Rose, and Naomi Kavka on lead vocals)
Producer: Olivia Quan