Evocative storytelling, rich musicality and the heartfelt conveyance of human emotion. Those are some of the hallmarks of Holding Back The Levee, the exceptional debut solo album from Melbourne songwriter Mitch Dean. After the success of his Suburban Speakeasy EP (2017), Mitch has delved deeper into his creative well and crafted an album that blends soulful Americana from its key components of country, folk and the blues.
Holding Back The Levee sounds like an album that has been crafted by a songwriter who knows the importance of allowing songs the space to breathe and their melodies and phrasing to shine. Mitch has clearly studied the masters and has a strong admiration for songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Gary Louris (The Jayhawks), Neil Young and Kevin Bennett. As such, it was clearly a thrill and honour to have Bennett sing guest vocals on the album title track.
On album opener, and first single, ‘A Face In A Long Line’, Mitch’s keening, high and lonesome voice takes centre-stage – supple and soulful like an Antipodean Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes). Elsewhere he invests just the right amount of six-string bite and shimmer in the tragic tale of ‘His Father’s Gun’, picks up the pace with freight train drumming and bluesy harmonica on the Dylanesque romp of ‘It’s In The Stream’ and testifies to the power of keeping an open heart in a strong relationship on ‘Let It Fall’. ‘What Can Go Wrong?’ throws caution to the wind with optimism, silver linings and a killer guitar solo, while ‘Please Don’t Wake Me’ is perfectly cast through a dreamy, cosmic country lens.
These are songs that unfurl with economy and endless, instantly hummable melodies. Combined with the gentle gravitational pull of the rhythm section it’s the sound of lazy Sunday afternoons and a custom-made soundtrack to rolling down sun-kissed ocean highways.
For a full run down of Mitch Dean make sure you read his full length bio.
DEBUT ALBUM FROM MITCH DEAN
AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 19TH
Holding Back The Levee sounds like an album that has been crafted by a songwriter who knows the importance of allowing songs the space to breathe and their melodies and phrasing to shine. Mitch has clearly studied the masters and has a strong admiration for songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Gary Louris (The Jayhawks), Neil Young and Kevin Bennett
”These are story songs that reveal their secrets over time… with this exquisitely produced and performed piece of work, Dean more than holds his own.”
Rhythms
“It’s Dean’s endearing and honest vocals that’s the trademark behind the album’s professional sound.”
Owner/Driver
“Dean’s voice is quite light and tuneful, more than a hint of Petty in there, and his songs are lyrically well focussed… Antipodean Petty-esque guitar rock.”
Americana UK
“The singer’s new album entrée song ‘A Face In A Long Line’ is a good example of the power of roots country music as a mirror of society.”
Nu Country
“Dean delivers it lyrically straight and emotionally rich – that is, he knows how to tell a story and do it with meaning.” “The result is a beautifully crafted song – and, no doubt, a great album to come.”
Jolene: The Country Music Blog
“Holding Back The Levee sounds like an album that has been crafted by a songwriter who knows the importance of allowing songs the space to breathe and their melodies and phrasing to shine. Mitch has clearly studied the masters…”
Chris Familton: Post to Wire
Holding Back the Levee has received a nomination in the ‘Best Country Album’ category in the 2020 Music Victoria Awards!
A great result to have the album sitting along side these other amazing albums and artists! Winners to be announced on Wednesday 9th of December.
Best Country Album
The Cartwheels – Self-titled
Lost Ragas – This Is Not A Dream
Michael Waugh – The Weir
Mitch Dean – Holding Back the Levee
Tracy McNeil & The GoodLife – You Be The Lightning
