Paul DeChambeau’s latest CD More Than Meets The Eye is aptly titled. Many of the songs on this album require multiple listening to here all of what his vocal and his instrumentation has to offer. Not only is this a very pleasant album, it is elaborate in its arrangements of voce and notes. Aside from his lyrical message, this singer-songwriter offers a landscape of musical nuggets that perfectly support every word this Massachusetts north shore artist sings.
More Than Meets The Eye opens with the catchy rhythmic bounce of “Beautiful World.” A springy bass line pulls the listener in as DeChambeau coats all with his honey smooth vocal. The lead guitar and piano plinking over the groove mirror the rhythm section’s hipness and it all comes together as one fine head bobbing, toe tapping, finger snapping ditty.
“Crush On You” travels a singer-songwriter acoustic guitar lead trail. DeChambeau’s honey smooth vocal, loaded with warmth, coats this piece with plenty of affection. It’s a treat to hear how he wraps his voice and his simple but earnest lyrics about a puppy love around an intricately played acoustic guitar.
“Just Gotta Go” is another sprightly acoustic guitar driven piece. DeChambeau’s acoustic guitar romp supports his flowing vocal with backbone, keeping it afloat as that voice asserts itself in motion filled moments.
“You’re Gonna Be Just Fine,” with its lilting melody and groove, rocks gently but steadily, maintaining a tug in its undertow. DeChambeau’s vocal shines with a sweet chirp and he courts the melody just right, letting his vocal roll over the tender peaks and valleys of brittle lines from the bass, guitar, drums, and keys. One is drawn to the contrast between pretty keyboard tinkering and that thicker but tender vocal line.
DeChambeau’s floating grace appears on “What’s The Reason.” His contemplative lyrics ponder the feelings of others, others who do not act in the interest of others. His voice passes by soft as melted butter, warm as a blanket. His gentle delivery of his nonjudgmental lyrics reinforce everything beautifully, and a lead guitar phrase sails by with a similar ease, completing an expansive feeling in this song.
“In Neverland” combines acoustic guitar strums with floating lead guitar phrasing to create a sense of drama beneath the surface of this tender piece. DeChambeau’s song structure does a lot for this one. The guitar phrase during the break cuts through the soundscape with bright precision as the rhythm section gives it lift. This singer only needs to let his vocal magic out a little bit at a time, playing out like bite size candies, easy to take in, each one as sweet as the last.
“See The Signs” is built upon a plethora of guitar notes, little nuggets of electric and acoustic, each adding up into a tapestry of gritty melodies. DeChambeau makes vocal leaps then glides through out, his voice asserting itself in an upward trajectory, coating all going on beneath with something smooth, cool, and sweet. When the electric guitar phrases, it’s like a large colorful banner of sound, projecting, enunciating DeChambeau’s beautiful message.
“Wouldn’t Want It Any Other Way” breezes by like a pleasant dream. DeChambeau’s mid tempo finesse is on full display here, using a cool, cordial lead guitar phrase as a line to sing to rather than sing over. Voice and lead guitar make a perfect dance of sound, and it’s another testament to a fine songwriter’s way of making his listener feel as good as his songs sound.
:DeChambeau gets edgier, moodier on ”If I Can Find A Way.” His vocal, throatier here, climbs above darker, gruffer electric guitar chords. He makes his listener feel the challenge in this life story, and an incisive lead guitar slow burns with rangy phrase. It works beautifully, even though it’s heavier than DeChambeau’s other songs. His personality is strong enough to take control of the darkness which he suits to his purposes.
“The Day I Met You” reminds of Paul Simon, James Taylor, and all of the other great singer-songwriters of days gone by. It is underpinned by subtle nuanced notes that turn the mid tempo spinning wheel bright in just the right moments beneath DeChambeau’s bits of sliding, slipping vocal phrasing. It moves like a marching army of tiny little men with acoustic guitars in their hands and much glee in their hearts.
On “Here We Go” the singer-songwriter sings about a boat like shes’s a woman. DeChambeau’s wit makes it work as he strums away on his acoustic guitar while organ chords expand and an electric guitar presses out a wistful phrase. Only Chambeau’s warm vocal and reverent lyrics could make this capsized boat scenario sound like a special moment in history.
Close out track “Lily” is one of those acoustic gems that make you want to chill out and take in all its mellow tenderness. DeChambeau’s vocal sustains take the listener to a pretty place as the accompaniment compliments him with plenty of equally fine notes. The drum stick against the rim is perfectly timed and the melodic notes seem to smile at the listener.
DeChambeau’s More Than Meets The Eye is a fine collection of singer-songwriter material taken to an even higher level with the singer-songwriter’s beauty of a voice. He keeps enough of the snap, crackle, and pop of variety on this album to give it depth and flexibility within its singer-songwriter genre. His lyrical descriptions keep this colorful and he has the kind of voice that keeps the listener following intently to see where he goes next. Good work.
https://www.pauldechambeau.com/
