'Love Valley' Review: Michael Bernard Fitzgerald's fifth album manifests optimism and a healing atmosphere
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald is set to release his new full-length on October 9, 2020. Titled 'Love Valley' the new studio album sees the Canadian singer-songwriter sharing an intimate collection of songs that were recorded at C & F Systems in Memphis, Tennessee, at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, and at OCL Studios in the artiste's hometown of Calgary, Canada. For the recording, Fitzgerald joined forces with his longtime friend, producer and Juno Award-winning engineer Josh Rob Gwilliam.
The album also recruits an incredible set of musicians including Brett Resnick on Pedal Steel (who has worked with Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price, Soccer Mommy), Lyle Molzan on Drums (Kathleen Edwards, Emm Gryner) and Art Edmaiston on Sax (Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Jim Lauderdale, Jonny Lang).
Fitzgerald has spent more than a decade creating songs with prominent songwriters and producers and has shared the stage with esteemed artists/bands such as Bryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Ben Harper, Michael Franti and Steve Winwood. The culmination of such experience and knowledge has manifested in an album that is refreshingly humbling. Fitzgerald's fanbase has spread across North America and has been recognized as an artist who presents his art in honest simplicity.
Hit play on the album's opener, 'Heart Of It', and you greeted with a warmth that has slowly faded out of popular mainstream music. A tender trickle of the acoustic guitar, suspended strings, and organic percussion swell and soften with subtle changes and Fitzgerald's raspy voice affirms the album's power to calm listeners.
Move on to 'Good Plates' and it is clear Fitzgerald has become rooted in his craft and found a unique sense of comfort in music-making. Fitzgerald recently released the music video for 'Good Plates', in which he performs solo acoustic. The visual is especially meditative and even includes the sounds of early morning bird calls during the shooting. According to American Highways, Fitzgerald said of the video, "I wanted to describe simple but great moments with this record. ‘Good Plates’ is about hosting friends and family – celebrating, making a special occasion out of an evening. I love the concept of getting the good plates out with someone, that little detail says a lot." He added, "I think we all aspire to host more evenings like this, especially this year – the idea of hosting loved ones sounds overdue."
With songs like 'The Best We Haven't Seen Yet', the LP also displays a dream of a life yet to be seen. Fitzgerald sings optimism through a haze of minimalistic alternations on the guitar and a sweep of softened strings.
The expression "I love you" is powerful when coming from a genuine mouth, yet for Fitzgerald those words are nestled in a sense of fun. His 'I Love You' song carries a subtly cheeky offbeat on the drums and bouncy countrified bass. “I wanted to write a song that was simply reaffirming," said the singer of the track. "If you’re wondering – I’ll remind you. In the verses, the descriptions and visuals are detailed and simple – I love when simple English is poetic and beautiful in a song. The production is meant to be simple and fun, this was the last song written for the record and I think we recorded everything in a day or two.”
If you're a lover of sentimental folk or soft rock similar to artists like Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz, then 'Love Valley' is likely to become your new musical place of comfort. Michael Bernard Fitzgerald has put his heart on his sleeve with his new album, creating a healing atmosphere that exists somewhere in every one of us and we highly recommend 'Love Valley'.