An album of mellow, sun-drenched pop tunes with a hint of Americana. Songwriter Damien DeRose makes rural music for city folks under his Peasant moniker.
Put your headphones on and head for the nearest park to get the full benefit of ‘Shady Retreat’. The gently tinkling piano, scratchy acoustic guitar and Damien’s hazy vocals are perfect for a lazy afternoon with some friends, a beaten up frisbee and an improvised picnic to wind up the day.
Just like a perfect summer day, the ten songs on the album have a transient, catch it while you can feel to them. ‘Well Alright’ exudes the fragile charm of a mid-Sixties Beach Boys session. Blink and you miss it. Same for the folky feelgood factor on ‘The End’ or the wistful ballad ‘Into The Woods’.
Watch Peasant Play ‘The End’
Peasant’s songwriting and delivery are more subtle than on his previous album ‘On The Ground’. The 2009 album presented an artist equally at ease with polished pop tunes and earthy folk rock. ‘Shady Retreat’, on the other hand, takes a step back from the edge of the stage and shows a more private DeRose.
Recorded in the attic of a 200 year old wooden farm house stranded in the middle of drive-ins and retail outlets, ‘Shady Retreat’ is resolutely lo-fi. You can feel the contrast between the speed and noise of the modern world on the outside and the calm of Peasant’s old world retreat on the inside coming through on these songs. They are songs that urge you to stop the clock and feel the moment, it will be gone too soon.
‘Shady Retreat’ is an unusually unassuming album, so you may need to give it a few listens before the songs open up for you. Definitely a grower.
Peasant - Spring 2010 Tour Dates
US Dates
13/04 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hotel Café
28/04 – Chicago, IL @ Martyrs w/ Chris Pureka
29/04 – Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall w/ Chris Purkea
01/05 – Minneapolis, MN @ Bryant Lake Bowl w/ Chris Pureka
02/05 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon w/ Chris Pureka
03/05 – Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews w/ Chris Pureka
European Dates
05/05 - Basel (CH) @ TBC
06/05 - Zürich (CH) @ Papiersaal
07/05 - Stuttgart (D) – Wagenhallen
12/05 - London (UK) - The Tamesis Dock
15/05 - Lille (F) - Le Drugstore
If you like ‘Shady Retreat’, you may also enjoy Peasant’s previous album ‘On The Ground’.
