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It’s no surprise that Free Time has compiled a bunch of songs that sound an awful lot like Twerps, seeing as front-man Dion spent time with the group fleshing out their live sound. But, make no mistake about it, he’s got a voice all his own, which makes Free Time a record that will wash over you with a bit of warmth and pop, fitting in perfectly to any daily listening occasion.
“I Lost Again” is the opening track, and it’s exactly what I expected from Dion. There’s a leading guitar line that seems fitting for a day in observance of the ocean, with casually ringing guitar chords and vocals that seem drenched in an oceanic mist. A slight vocal adjustment arrives during the chorus, allowing the song to drift to a certain degree. However, “It’s Alright” is where Dion Nania puts his own stamp. While there are some similarities to Aussie pop, there’s a bit more of a blues-y stomp/sway to the track; the track itself is a bit lighter, even playful. I like the fact that you can feel a bit of an emotional swing to this tune. It’s these little touches that make Free Time escape a lot of its relationship with Twerps.
For instance, taking one listen to “World Without Love” will easily show you that Dion and his band aren’t content settling for an easy Aussie formula, not that I’d mind that either. The vocal delivery is a bit more whimsical, using overlapping bits of spoken-word to maneuver in and out of the interwoven guitar parts…and is that a flute in the background? Or you can look at the track that serves as a precursor, “Just Once.” On this number, things are a bit noisier, at least in regards to what’s going on in the background. It takes a bit of formulaic indie pop and ups ante by coating the vocals in a bit of a wash, with strings striking hard in the distance. These aren’t your run of the mill touches to what I expected from Dion.
That being said, one of my favorite pieces from Free Time does harken back to Nania’s musical relationships. Opening with chiming guitars while he cooly, and casually, sings definitely works to the song’s benefit. When the pace picks up, it’s hard not to get swept away in the track’s audial pull, directly latching onto your heart. While listening to this tune, it’s easy to see where Dion’s been musically, but what I like about Free Time is the fact that it manages to stand out a bit on its own merit. There are nods to friends and such, but as I’ve mentioned, he’s doing his best to make sure you know this is his band and his sound; for the most part, he’s extremely successful.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/01-I-Lost-Again.mp3]
Download: Free Time – I Lost Again [MP3]
There is Danger hail from Phoenix, AZ and they just so happened to get in touch with us recently about some new music they’ve been working on. Their style is what I might call irresistible to anyone with a pulse for music. The pop moments as they build and build create some truly superb pop music that anyone could get into. Our free track below, “Passport”, demonstrates that slow build which leads into a pop guitar riff and beat that could rival the likes of similar big indie names like Grizzly Bear or even Youth Lagoon. Bold comparisons I know, but the band seems worthy if you ask me.
