Dana Sipos is yet another brilliant Canadian export to enhance the musical heritage if the world. From her industrial roots, she traveled extensively in the wilds of Canada and later to places further afield. Her songs are rooted in those places and have been compared to the work of Nick Drake.

Over the 10 tracks on offer on Trick of the Light, she gives the listener a broad range of styles, experiences and emotions.

There is an ethereal musical introduction to "Lean Times" that sets a tone well suited to her plaintive voice. She gives a more driven beat on "Shenandoah," with haunting overtones that make for an eerie listening experience.

Once again on "Lily in the Window" we get a very odd musical intro that has us wondering what she has in store. She then opens into another beautiful story song that is very well performed.

"Lighthouse Nights" is probably the strongest track on the album and would be my choice for radio play to introduce listeners to Dana's work. The keyboard draws us in before she gives us a lovely well paced "happy" song. This mood continues on "Tides" although the song is more balanced and thoughtful.

The album reeks of the wide open spaces allied to plaintive and often personal narratives of life with a very extensive use of instruments not often heard on the albums of today.

Dana has a bright future based on the content of this release and I look forward to hearing more.

[ visit the artist's website ]