Trespass Music is pleased to share this review of Ken Dunn's new album "Wondrous Beauty" by Max Achatz - Country Jukebox in Germany!
"Canadian folk-rock singer-songwriter Ken Dunn should be extremely pleased with his seventh recording "Wondrous Beauty." 10 great songs allow plenty of time for suspense while sometimes drawing the listener into a meditative mood.
"Wondrous Beauty" is an acoustic album penned by the hand of a troubadour who dispenses with the usual stereotypes in his lyrics. The songs are about real people, real emotions, and the personal desire for social and environmental justice.
Deeply rooted in traditional folk, earthy roots and enriched with a pinch of Celtic music, Ken Dunn's work enchants with contrasts: sometimes rough, sometimes gentle, mostly full of melancholy, but also joy, pain, tragedy, darkness, and love.
Ken has also succeeded in leaving a lot of room for his captivating voice, even as his own producer of this work, and is only occasionally supported by singing partner Anna Green. Dunn acts sensitively and differentiates purposefully.
On the whole, "Wondrous Beauty" is a sensitive work that rewards multiple listening, and the discovery of ever new facets throughout."
Max W. Achatz
COUNTRY JUKEBOX - GERMANY
DJs AIRPLAY DIRECT click HERE
KEN'S WEBSITE - CLICK HERE
MORE ABOUT KEN DUNN
"Highly evocative and intriguing" (fRoots, UK), the music of Ken Dunn offers "refreshing insight into human complexities" (Festival of Friends, Hamilton) with a style characterized as "the folk tradition, with integrity and sincerity" (Chart, Toronto). Whether mining the depths of human emotion, or pleading the case for social and environmental justice, Ken's songs are "filled with the human spirit" (CFMU Radio, Hamilton).
Combining an adept finger style acoustic guitar technique with "strong, distinctive vocals" (R2, Dublin), and "brilliant songwriting" (Hemifran, Sweden), Ken delivers his positive message directly to the soul of the listener "with a style compared to that of Neil Young" (Roots Time, Germany). Known for his engaging stage presence, sense of humour, and delightful story telling, Ken performs either solo, with partner Anna Green, or his "mighty Gypsy Starfish band" (FATEA Magazine, UK).
Ken often performs with his wife Anna Green, whose beautiful harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, and keyboard work provide added musical dimension and emotional depth to further engage audiences. In addition, his sound takes on a distinctive folk and country rock vibe when performing with Gypsy Starfish band members Tyler Beckett on fiddle, Randy Martin on bass, and Mark Mariash on drums.
A veteran Canadian folk singer-songwriter, now in his mid-60's, Ken has performed at hundreds of venues over the past 30 years, across Canada, the U.S., and Central America from concert halls to festivals and cafes, sharing the bill with folk and roots icons as diverse as Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie P. Bennett, Valdy, Mike Beck, Roy Schneider, Pi Jacobs, and Garnet Rogers.
Ken's passion for social and environmental justice is evident in the many benefit concerts he performs, supporting charities as diverse as the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Amnesty International, and PlayingForChange.
Ken previously released 6 albums featuring some of Canada's finest studio musicians, including Dennis Pendrith (Tom Paxton), Dean Drouillard (Jill Barber), Mark Mariash (Buffy Sainte Marie), Randall Hill, and Roly Platt. Ken's previous recordings have received critical acclaim, extensive airplay, and placement in film scores. His last album, "The Great Unknown" (2015), recorded with Gypsy Starfish won Best Americana Album for February 2016 at the Akademia Music Awards in Los Angeles, and was welcomed by numerous positive reviews, and airplay on folk and roots radio around the world. He lives and performs mainly in British Columbia, but also tours far and wide, when the road inevitably calls.
"Folk Americana music that's both unconventional and classic at the same time" Akademia Music Awards, Los Angeles
"When I first came across Ken Dunn’s music, I realized immediately it was something rather special. Great songs, thoughtfully delivered!"
Folk Roots Radio with Jan Hall, Canada
"Ken Dunn must have that song catcher soul to have such tradition in his musical mind… with forays into the stylings of folk-legends like Tom Rush and Tom Paxton… a stew of wonderful notes, stirred perfectly, sneaks into your feet, heart, and soul”
John Apice - NO DEPRESSION
For more information please visit Ken Dunn's WEBSITE HERE