The Maple Trail - Dirty Echo Spark

Author

Cam Stewart

Published

Tuesday 29th July

Dirty Echo Spark has a rustic charm that grows like mould on cheese. This is not a fashionable release – not overtly catchy, lyrics that don’t make mention of tits or ass, and, despite the mandolins, violins and pianos, a distinct lack of synthesiser. In fact, I doubt that Aidan Roberts, the man behind The Maple Trail, owns even one fluoro/patterned shirt. What this is – a masterpiece in home recording, crystal proof that neither big money nor big name production is required to make beautiful and innovative music. Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer Roberts should open his own studio. The sounds he pulls from his lounge room are enough to make The Kinks jealous.

The lack of hooks is immaterial as the thoughtful arrangements and perfect instrumentation ensure each song delivers beyond its full potential. Dirty Echo Spark gives a new spin on the basic folk-rock formula – The Maple Trail spice things up by adding elements of jazz and psychodelic rock’n’roll into the mix. The whole album has a distinct Sergeant Peppers vibe, a feeling best summed up by the single “Rabbit”, with its textured vocals, stiletto guitar, and Latin jazz tempo change. The Maple Trail are The Sleepy Jackson of folk-rock.