Slow Leaves aka Grant Davidson, songwriter from Winnipeg / Canada, is not only an attentive observer of his environment, but also a romantic poet and so everyday occurrences become lyrics that allow you to look deep into the artist’s soul. He is also an extremely talented guitarist and songwriter and so the 10 songs on his new album Shelf Life are little escapes from everyday life that – without wanting to set the bar too high – are reminiscent of Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, Pernice Brothers or Fred Neil.

Each of the 10 songs, most of which were recorded live, is an invitation to discover and participate in the artist’s world. In the words of the artist: “Shelf Life is a record about growing up to realise you are not the person you thought you would be. It is a collection of songs that wades between tides of past and present, success and failure, things lost and things found”. Its predecessor Enough About Me (2017) was already a wonderfully ironic self-reflection and was accordingly highly praised (see Quotes).

The album was recorded with musician friends such as Rusty Matyas (Weakerthans), Damon Mitchell (New Meanies) and Rejean Ricard (Telepathic Butterflies). As if it were a matter of course, each musician subordinates himself to the whole, joins in and so you can feel the original charm of the songs and there remains a familiar, almost anachronistic feeling, as was the case with many great albums of the 70s.

Shelf Life is a wonderful contrast to all the ego-boasting, an island of contemplation in the storm of vanity and quite simply a damn good album that can do more than it wants to at first glance.