Dan Cloutier The Iceberg
Dan Cloutier journeyed to Greenland and Newfoundland to record his new concept folk album The Iceberg. The concept is honoring a deep connection to nature and what really matters fundamentally as humans. As Dan explains it, “The music on the album is all about finding hope during dark seasons of life. I personally went through my own hard season with the loss of my father to a fast moving cancer, a loved one’s serious mental health struggles, and my own battles. I wrote the songs to let people know they are not alone. Like an iceberg, you cannot see what is underneath.”
Dan found mutual connections – both human and musical – recording with folks in Greenland and in Canada along the way, and these songs intrinsically shine with an inner light of natural beauty, camaraderie and respect. And that camaraderie takes quite a universal form on this album. This is one of those rare quality albums that should be marketed for all ages. It’s not a silly, pablum, watered down kids album by any means. But anyone who has kids and/ or grandkids knows how difficult it is to find common musical ground with your kids. Stuff that’s marketed to kids is so poppy and repetitious it’s actually insulting to the children, and unlistenable for the grown-ups. But this album, like Jerry Garcia’s Not For Kids Only, taps into something that kids can hold onto, while the grownups are listening at a different level. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very human, very adult album, but it has that rare quality that can captivate anyone.
The title track is an homage to the stunning impression of a real life iceberg: “There’s an iceberg at the end of the world and it shines and it shimmers like gold, and it calls all the ships to come home and float in its specter.” and then comes the metaphoric layer: “my heart longs to see such beauty as that iceberg towering over me.” This is song over bright acoustic guitar that’s so bright it could almost be mandolin, and the effect is quite lovely.
“Synapses Fire” is an uptempo folk rock number, “we never are alone / all the pillars will be reborn.” Dan reports that he wrote this song while listening to Wilco‘s A Ghost Is Born. Quite a feat.
“I Want to Feel Your Broken Heart Beating” delves deeper into longing for human connection as he declares “I want to feel your broken heart beating next to mine / my broken heart needs yours / kick off your shoes, run with me in the rain / let’s find the biggest puddle and jump.” “Take Your Next Step” is an honest hopeful offering “don’t forget, child, all the lessons learned / none of us walk this path along / just take your next step, bring good into the world.”
Later in the album is “Ilulissat (Iceberg 3),” with the lyrics about the very adult sense of longing: I don’t understand your pain / I barely understand my own / Like an iceberg on the sea / There is so much unseen underneath / But I know that my pain hurts / And I know that yours must too / In this dark ocean of life / I will float right next to you.”
Along with the hope and honest confessions, the music is invariably bright and clear on the album’s 11 songs. Rich with acoustic melodies and accompanying banjo, dulcimer and occasional electric guitar, organ and synth, it’s a sonic delight. You can hear a bit of the chillier air and the stunning ice formations of the Northern climates where the album was recorded, woven deep into the songs. Find more details here on Dan’s website: https://www.dancloutier.com/
Musicians on the album are Dan Cloutier on vocals, harmony vocals (3,8) acoustic guitars, banjo, electric guitar (6) and Merlin dulcimer (9); Kalina Cloutier on harmony vocals (4,5) inspiration, support, and love (1-11); Ricardo Barraza on harmony vocals (2,7,8,) acoustic guitar, electric guitar (8) and Merlin dulcimer (2); Kyle Harris on drums; Kim Jennings on harmony vocals (1,2,4,5,7,9,10,11) and keyboards; Mike Lachance on harmony vocals (4,7) and bass guitar; Eric L’Esperance on harmony vocals (1,8,9) electric guitar (4,7) organ (6,7,8) Mellotron (11) Synthesizer (11) and piano (9).
All songs were written by Dan Cloutier, except Rocky Shore, which was written by Dan Cloutier and Misha Bebenin. The Iceberg was engineered and produced by Eric L’Esperance at Harvest Roots Recording, with assistant recording engineer Josh Girouard. It was mastered by Jason Deift. “Chainmail” was recorded in St John’s, Newfoundland by Robert Kelly. The Iceberg and Iceberg II were recorded in Ilulissat, Greenland. The album cover photo is courtesy of Eric L’Esperance with the back photo by Dan Cloutier.