The incredibly focused, soul-searching EP from singer-songwriter David Forest, was created with such an endearing spirit it drips comfort from every word he sings. Dreams That Aren’t Mine is a humble, warm piece of work that will be loved by both young and old who can appreciate the emotion and inspiration woven through each song. The recording is evidence that Forest picked a caring production team to showcase his work. Produced by Seth Freeman and Mixed by Michael Eisenstein, the record has more warmth and depth than the usual major label releases of the same genre. Their work together should show clearly what talent obviously exists in the independent music world today. This EP sounds deep and classic within its first few notes and takes you on a journey of spirit, which quickly provokes you to think about life, love and your world a bit differently.
As the listening begins, the title track plucks your heartstrings right out of the box. David captures your soul with his vocal tone and kind delivery immediately. This song holds the perfect balance of texture, emotion and musicality staying inside that part of your brain, which keeps only the best of memories. A lovely piano hook lays nice groundwork for the song to build slowly and intelligently. “Just As Satisfied” begins with a distant, tender introduction that builds to a solid meaningful arrangement layered with tasteful strings, vocals and guitar work. Well written and executed, Forest handles this performance like a delicate piece of glass, walking carefully aware of each turn and lift. Larger than the song itself, the energy that comes from this song shows that David’s heart is inside each note. This is an artist who truly believes in his song.
“Time Lord” begins with a sweet, acoustic guitar and pedal steel accent allowing David’s vocal to push through warmly. The dynamics are perfect allowing Forest to tell his story without distraction. His talent as a vocalist and storyteller are showcased clearly in this piece. Again, Forest, Freeman and Eisenstein craft a song that floats softly but has a strong impact on the heart and mind. The next track, “Famous” tells a tale that any artist, but most importantly, any human being living in today’s world can identify with clearly. With some humorous elements, David delivers a song of doubt, hope, confidence, and regret that is incredibly commercial and infectious. He pulls you in with this bouncy, pop-rock number but tells a very meaningful story.
“Keep On Climbing” spreads the sound of a string quartet swirling a dark, mysterious beginning to a song which touches another level of emotion inside its bars. The powerfully solid and steady beat of this song is haunting and it glides through the air beautifully. The tune builds with such a even pace and takes you along carefully. David is careful and courageous only wanting to accurately deliver his feelings to the listener. With every word, you believe that the climb is steep and even treacherous, but strength and hope will eventually conquer the peak. The bonus track re-visits “Time Lord” as “re-imagined” clearly labeled on the CD sleeve. This version seems less planned and performed with much more honesty. Make no mistake, Forest is believable throughout the recording, but this version was a welcomed addition as you can hear the subtle changes which can make a song stand out with more clarity and emotion.
This EP is one of those releases that screams for more material and accurately does its job to wet the appetite of potential fans. David Forest has hit the mark with this release, which is a marketable collection of material for a number of demographics. We can only hope his dreams will come true after the release of a full-length recording. For now, simply, well done David. Well done.
"Dreams That Aren't Mine" is on sale January 5, 2010 from Feeling Tone Records.
