Myles Goodwyn asks a tall transcendental question on his spiritual song Will the Last Voice I Hear Be an Angel? — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The tenderly intimate song arrives ahead of the April Wine leader’s forthcoming recording project Long Pants, set for release this summer. A collection of his most personal songs to date, the new full-length dives deep into the masterful musician’s extensive and previously unreleased archives, with one song dating back 40 years.
“The ‘oldest’ new song on the album, Forever Amber, was written four decades ago,” Goodwyn shares. “I wrote it for my daughter Amber on the very night she was born. The recording will feature a song I’ve written for each of my three children. Talk to Me was written for my son Aaron and is about love and the importance of communication between a child and their parents. And Over the Moon was written when I learned my younger boy Cary was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It’s a serious and chronic disease, and the song is one of love, understanding, optimism — which is an important message of hope and love to all children and parents dealing with diabetes.”
It’s a robust release traversing Goodwyn’s interests, introspect, and outward observations; there’s a lighthearted song about kittens, plus a rollicking drinking song. There’s a touching love song, Princess Rain, featuring his lifetime partner Kim as its muse, and Right Myself, co-written with multi-award winning singer-songwriter Order of Canada member Lennie Gallant. Also among the 12 tracks are I Leave Today, a stirring song about euthanasia, inspired by Dan Hill’s mom choosing the option at the age of 90, and Darling Where Are You, a deeply poignant penning expressing concern and compassion for missing Indigenous women.
“This song — Will the Last Voice I Hear Be an Angel? — is the release’s ‘youngest’ new song; I wrote it this spring,” Goodwyn adds. “It’s a tune about life, and reflection, and contemplating one’s mortality.” Goodwyn is joined on the track by Bruce Dixon (Oakley Band, Rita MacNeil, Roch Voisine) and Jim Henman — with whom he started the iconic rock band April Wine alongside David Henman and Ritchie Henman in 1969.
Teeming with Goodwyn’s inimitable vocals and distinct, immediately recognizable musicianship, Long Pants lands as yet another top-shelf addition to his extensive discography and career. Check out Will the Last Voice I Hear Be an Angel? above, hear more from Myles Goodwyn below, and touch base on his website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.