Dale White – Fade
Reviewed By Michael Morgan
Words without music always puts an onus on the artist to produce a unique sound with instruments that transcend lyrics, leaving much to the imagination of the listener. The varying sound effects married with classic piano and modern synthesizers produce a sonic gateway into the imagination on Dale White's album Fade. You're lead to believe that he has got some kind of coterie of musical gurus with him helping him to produce this record. Can it be that Mr. White is a one-man band playing all of these tracks? The tracks vary in tempo and style from one to the other, but share a common theme of transcience; you, the listener are constantly being taken to another place, travelling from one destination to another with each song. And that alone, is what makes this record exciting and interesting. On "Bike Ride," the bass synth and steel drum aspects lace the melody giving it an island feel. After reading the title and listening to the exotic rhythms, I realized that this could be sweet riding music. The front line refrains get sufficiently louder in dynamics and help keep the song interesting. The contemporary jazz and pop fusion reminds me of early 90s Donald Fagen's (of Steely Dan fame) Kamakiriad period where he solely relied on synthesizer funk and jazz piano to create beautiful pop-friendly melodies in a new age hue. Each song tells a magical story through musical composition sans lyrics. Easy on the ears. Wild on the imagination.
“Euro Time,” the first track I heard on Fade, also takes you to another place. (Perhaps a euro techno disco?) It is my favorite on this album, probably because of its disco electronica quality (for which, I must admit, I have a ferocious soft spot). "Euro Time" has an upbeat cruising tempo and would be perfect music for rumbling down the boulevard on an 1100cc Harley Roadking cruiser. The whistling on the refrain reminds me of a futuristic disco bird with a funky whistle. Dale clearly sweats the small details which is what makes a good album great; the riffs on the melody via wah wah synth sound add some serious flavor to "Euro Time."
The modern and contemporary sounds fuse well with the classical on Fade. "Elegant One" is a stunning combo of classic piano and synthesizer held in a classical light. Once again, sweating the small stuff pays off here with the gorgeous harp strings plucked away during the chorus. I could imagine much of the music used for commercial purposes. With the new age sounds and easy listening accents, it is ideal for meditation or motivational tapes.
Dale also spares no sound samples on this record using some eclectic instruments. My favorite was "Sister Liu Finds Her Rock." The Chinese violins paint this songscape paired with a light drumbeat. The experimentation with varying sounds is both uplifting and auditorily enlightening. The optimistic stance of "Better Day" with its pianos conversing, and beckoning synthesizers, are waiting to be unleashed but kept on guard by its midtempo dash. The sound of children playing at recess offers a glimpse of its leisurely feel.
Dale White's Fade is proof that music alone can speak louder than words. I highly recommend this electronic gem to anyone into new age and edgy easy listening music. Attention to Donald Fagen fans: Buy this album. You won't regret it.
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