***1/2 out of 5 stars
It's been three years since David Gray's last album, "White Ladder," but his sixth studio release, "A New Day at Midnight," is his strongest effort yet.
Insanely popular in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Manchester-born artist managed to produce this highly anticipated follow up album while remaining true to the sound and structure that kept him on the chart for 175 weeks in Ireland - everything that made "White Ladder" the best-selling, non-compilation album of all time in that country.
The album's opening track "Dead in the Water" sets the tone for the remainder of the album, which is consistent with what fans have come to expect from the artist: easy- listening music. But Gray's lyrics are worth paying attention to; each song is loaded with significant meaning and sensitivity.
Created in a small recording studio, the record has an earthy feel, as opposed to the heavily synthesized beats usually present in music today. The lack of the perfect, studio-produced sound we've come to expect from major record company releases gives tracks like "Dead in the Water" charm and character.
Light and easy on the ears, it is far more likely that you will find a copy of "A New Day at Midnight" in your parents' CD players rather then your classmates' or siblings'. Good to listen to while relaxing or studying, Gray's soothing sound is typically more popular with mature crowds.
Similar to Gray's "Babylon," the feature track from the last album, "Dead in the Water" shows promise to become popular on easy-listening radio stations in the near future. "Freedom," the record's fourth track, is also worth checking out for similar qualities.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
