The Music of Dylan Shearer
Posted on | July 16, 2009 | 3 Comments
Dylan Shearer’s music was once described to me as “the best kept secret in Santa Cruz.” Indeed, I knew Dylan for months before I even knew that this shy, unassuming guy was a musician.
His music falls into the folky, psychedelic genre of limited-run albums that hard-core seekers fall all over themselves to get a hold of. It’s spooky and melodic, beautiful, complex and strange.
The album Planted/Plans was a small-run pressing, and as far as I know, quickly sold out. However, it is available through itunes and if you get in touch with Dylan via his MySpace page, he may be able to get you a CD-R.
Here’s a bio that Dylan sent over to describe himself.
Born and raised in Lancaster Ca. in the Mojave Desert. I am now working as a social worker in S.F. Bay area.
I have been making home recordings since I was a kid. I stopped writing songs for a few years and turned more towards improvisation but returned to song writing after my Dad died.
Most of Planted/Plans was recorded at my apartment in Oakland within the time-frame of a month. I recorded the songs and over-dubbed banjo, accordion, percussion, piano, bass and keyboards. This was a time of transition. I had just moved to Oakland from Santa Cruz.
I am now in the process of finishing up an 18 song album called Porch Puddles. This has been slow to come because I was in grad school for the past two years. I also have two previous albums worth of songs, an EP and Carousel to a door.
Here’s a review of Planted/Plans on Yik Yak by David Keenan:
Hand-numbered edition of only 100 copies: this is another mysterious out-of-time singer-songwriter side in the style of the label’s earlier, amazing Robert Martin LP.
Shearer is reputedly influenced by the orchestrated American topography of Harry Partch and Van Dyke Parks but given this album in a blind-fold test you’d almost swear it was some lost English private from the late 60s/early 70s.
Shearer’s vocals have the same eccentric bohemian aristocracy of Kevin Ayers circa Joy Of A Toy, alongside touches of melancholy Nick Drake-isms and some classic, dislocated Syd Barrett/Madcap Laughs style confusion.
The songs are great, memorable acoustic constructs that conjure all sorts of phantom hooks from out of the air: stick this one on Holyground credit Bill Nelson with some backing guitar and you would be fighting baldies in collector’s holes for years to score yourself a copy. But here it is – though guaranteed not for long. Highly recommended.
So sample Dylan’s music and get a feel for what he does. If it’s your thing, get in touch with Dylan through his MySpace page, check out other Yik Yak releases, and let the music carry you away.
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3 Responses to “The Music of Dylan Shearer”
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July 20th, 2009 @ 10:04 PM
Are you familiar with any of Michael Nau’s stuff? I.E. Cotton Jones, Page France.
July 20th, 2009 @ 10:43 PM
I was recently turned on to Cotton Jones by a friend at the record store. What’s the story with Michael Nau?
July 21st, 2009 @ 12:18 PM
I know he’s a fairly young dude, however, he has the song-writing chops of a veteran song-writer. Put out 3 full lengths with his previous band Page France(their album Hello, Dear Wind, being a stand out, I think), and is now doing this Cotton Jones thing. I don’t know know if you own any of their records, but the song, “I Don’t Suppose(unrelaxed)” and “The Spinning Wheel” are some of my favorites.
He’s also got 2 Daytrotter sessions, check out “Cotton & Velvet” from this session : http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/cotton-jones-concert/20030409-3737757.html
And “Less than Positive” at this session : http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/cotton-jones-concert/20030702-3737757.html