Dan Michaelson - First Light (2017)

It seems strange to write about this album now that the spring is in full bloom, sun is shining and it's warm outside. This album is a proper winter album. Then again, now that I'm listening to the album in COVID-19 lockdown with sun shining in trough the windows, it sounds glorious. Some people have a voice that makes gives you shivers even when the song or the melody isn't that exiting. Dan Michaelson has one of those voices. If I were to compare it to some other voices out there, the most apparent comparisons would be Bill Callahan or Matt Berninger of The National. The deep voice has also been put in the very front in his music through production, so you'll hear all the little faults, but also all of the rasp. I think one reason why I adore these raspy low vocals is that it's a complete opposite of my own clear and high ones.


I first got acquainted with Dan Michaelson's music when he released his album Blindspot with his band The Coastguards in 2013. I had moved to London almost two years before and  was still spellbound about finding so many amazing bands so easily. The record shops, gigs, new international friends and the general atmosphere introduced me to so much new music that I had no idea existed when I lived in Finland. Dan Michaelson's voice was a voice that impressed me from the first second I heard it. The songs on his albums are not necessarily the best compositions. Quite a few of the songs sound exactly the same and there are usually many catchy melodies, but what it lacks in melodies, it gains in the sound. The deep vocals are accompanied by string arrangements and magical pianos. This is music that is best enjoyed by just focusing on every sound, preferably while laying down.

The album starts with probably the best song I've ever heard from Dan Michaelson, Careless. The string arrangements and the piano sound absolutely magical. The french horn in the background seals the deal for one of the most beautiful tunes out there. Sand brings out the echo that reminds me of windy winter days. When the vocals come in, it's like a warm blanket in the midst of all that cold. The raspy sound is pure bliss. Someone Else's Dream has nice pizzicato along with messy piano in the background. There's not much of a melody in this song, but there's amazing calm hypnotism in the sounds. In Stone there are some of the most beautiful string arrangements on the album. It's amazing how incredible pop music you can make with classical instruments. Old Kisses starts really slowly. The song is creeping in and growing very bit by bit. This is the first song where I'm paying any attention to a guitar. But I'll Never Be Lost has strings zooming in and out while the rhythm is kept mostly by the bass. Even though the melody consists mainly of major chords and the lyrics are quite hopeful, there's some deep melancholy in the song. The title track First Light is potentially the most boring song on the album. It sounds great, but there's hardly any melody, nor rhythm. The album ends with the first song that is built around an acoustic guitar, Don't Let It Pass. It sounds almost happy after the melancholic wave of songs in the earlier album.

I saw Dan Michaelson live with his band The Coastguards a few years ago in The Lexington here in London. The show made a huge impact on me. The sounds were just perfect even live. Michaelson's voice sounded just as glorious live as it does on the album.

I don't know if there are official music videos for this album, but there's a video, potentially made by a fan, for Careless,  that shows black and white scenes from Western films. The horses are running for their lives and cowboys are falling off the horses. Even though it's running the same loop over and over again, it fits in perfectly with the song.

I have this album on vinyl and unfortunately I don't have such a good vinyl player here in London, which means that the sound is distorted a bit, which really can't happen with this album. That's probably why I haven't listened to this album nearly as much as I should. The vinyl didn't even come with a digital download, which means that now I'm restricted to listening to it on Spotify even though I have the album. I really wish I would some day get my good record player to my home again, so I could make the most of having this wonderful album.

Listen to the album on Spotify.