Ryan Dugré – Three Rivers
11A Records – 19 February 2021
For artists overthinking things can be a problem, as a part of a “song a day exercise” Ryan Dugré wrote the songs that would become Three Rivers. What makes the process so interesting is the fact that you don’t have the opportunity to overthink things. Every day, a new piece needed to be created. While the purpose is to make creativity more routine, the result is you come up with more honest depictions of your original thoughts. One can’t be methodical, there simply isn’t the time for that.
Calm and meditative, Three Rivers establishes a new approach, one that wasn’t exactly familiar to Dugré. Using a laptop on its last legs and one microphone, the process yielded surprising results. Starting with a rhythm part on piano or guitar, he followed up adding a melody. Quite often he anticipated having someone sing the melody, using a synthesizer, slide guitar or piano to emulate the vocals. After the fact he realized there actually was no need for vocals, the pieces stood up perfectly well without them, and instead of working on a song for a week at a time, the basic framework was done by days end.
The natural feel to Three Rivers illustrates how well this approach worked. There’s a subtle, unforced nature to songs like album opener “Living Language.” Opening with acoustic guitar, strings add a touch of melancholy to the tune, as slide guitar in the background roots the piece. Simple chords lead into the soft bounce of “Old Hotel,” revealing the charm of the surroundings. This is a place of quiet comforts, welcoming in an old-fashioned sort of way. Violins add to the charm, making it a place you really don’t want to leave.
Reflecting the quiet beauty of the flower, “Foxglove” reveals the stunning nature of this tubular flower, while the second half of the song quickens the pace. There’s a sense of mystery to “Stalking Horse” reflected in the initial guitar part. Keyboard adds to the sense of uncertainty with a four-note descending phrase leaving unanswered questions. Piano opens “Shining,” but here again the piece feels like there is something that is not quite right with the shine.
At the heart of “Lumina” is a slide guitar playing off the acoustic, creating a melody that adds a sad edge to this short piece. Slide also features prominently on “in the Silence,” playing off an acoustic guitar, going up at the end on a journey that seems never to conclude, which is true of so many journeys. Closing the album, “Glace Bay” ends on a brief note of positivity suggesting that there is always reason for hope and positivity.
Like many a body of water, there are hidden depths to Three Rivers. Ryan Dugré has created a work that suggests complexity, based not on the number of notes so much as the feelings behind those notes. It is a testament to the ability of people to hear the wonder that exists with the wood and steel.
Pre-Order Three Rivers: https://ryandugre.bandcamp.com/album/three-rivers
Photo Credit: Annette Wong