Dietrich Strause is the epitome of a great songwriter, at least when I think of great songwriter’s. Poetic, pleasing, and pretty in a way. His voice, with tinges of Josh Ritter and well, I don’t even know who else, but there is a Ritter-esque comparison to be made I suppose. His voice is clear and crisp, like a fresh breeze on a sunny day really. He sings with a sincerity that is rare in an arena flooded with roots songwriters focused on the grit of the genre. He is folk, but has a mass appeal. When you watch him perform you just say “hey, I really like this guy. His music is excellent, but I just want to be this dude’s friend”. A charm and sharpness make this songwriter’s music a real wonderful listening experience.
“Unsinkable” has a quick draw pattern to the chorus. This is one of those songs that when you hear it live, it captures the audience. The steady and bopping pick of his acoustic guitar, a steady drum and tambo marking the path for the lyrics to leave their footprint and a weaving arrangement of fiddle and keys filling in the space at the back of the room. The “stop” kicking the last ¼ of the song is a perfect disruption of sorts to the established pattern of the song, with just Dietrich’s voice filling in the gap.
“Lemonade Springs” is a nice contrast to the previously mentioned track. It has a slow trodden sense about it. Atmosphere and a darkening sense is brought in at the refrains via harmonies and instrumentation.
“Jean Louise” brings the tempo back up just a bit and is the type of song that will have everyone in the room singing along and clapping to the beat. It has an infectious groove to it…in part thanks to Strause’s trumpet work. That’s another great thing about this record, the diversity in its sound, tempo and feel while all being stitched tightly together by the strength of the singer-songwriters voice.
Jean Louise I’ll tell you that your bare feet are still too loud,
for sneaking through the garden you’ve got bells on your ankles and the belfry’s in the ground,
lilacs and violets and a shotgun blast,
the mockingbirds in whispers like the sky before the flash
Strause is a storyteller at heart. Spinning intricate tales into his clever rhyme schemes. Painted over chord patterns that are anything but run of the mill for folk and roots music. He has a feather light pick and strum to his style. Airy but solid and defined in its delivery, his playing is a perfect accompaniment to his voice. Really a poet packed into a songwriting package.
The musicianship here is top notch, the songwriting even more so, and Dietrich Strause is a likeable and charismatic and accessible musician that most anyone will love. “Little Stones to Break the Giant’s Heart” is a bright and smart album from an already established clever songwriter, one who just so happens to be a staple in the Camber-ville music community and beyond.
http://www.dietrichstrause.com/home/
***Dietrich plays at Club Passim TOMORROW NIGHT. Thats Friday, March 6th with Zack Hickman, Lyle Brewer and Rose Polenzani!***
Get your tickets today!
https://tickets.passim.org/ordertickets.asp?p=4582&backurl=default.asp