biographical info
Unusually vivid first-person narratives, both confessional and pure confection, are probably his strongest suit, but Toronto songwriter Ian North - born and raised in Ottawa - has spent several years in Vancouver - also has a strong and distinctive voice, and a penchant for clever chord changes that keep his odd melodies in a state of ungrounded suspension somewhere between acoustic pop and jazzy folk. With little more than acoustic guitars, an occasional piano, dobro, cello or accordion, drums, bass and the odd vocal harmony, North creates a richly musical context for his complex yarns ("The Ballad of Stephen Reid" is typical) and ruminations ("Leaving Buffalo," outstanding) on this, his second independent CD. Greg Quill, The Toronto Star, May 2006
influences
Hank Williams
Mendelssohn
Talking Heads