André Bisson thumbs through a stack of Dusty Albums in his nostalgic, rootsy new single and live-in-the-studio video — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
In the latest preview of his upcoming album Latchford, the acclaimed Canadian blues singer-songwriter takes us on another meaningful journey through life’s most meaningful and memorable moments. This reminiscence, however, is tainted with the sadness of missed opportunities and the thought of a life that could have been:
“Spent my youth in a naive waste, little time to contemplate
All the answers that stood in front of me
A past impossible to please yet now full of honesty
That cast a shadow where time meets reality
Now I’m standing in this crowd as they share stories aloud
Of all the wisdom you tried to give to me
They’ve caught moments lost in time but for me all that’s left behind are
Dusty albums and a stranger’s memory.”
Dusty Albums is the followup to Shake – a saxophone-driven song that reminds us to give care to those who need it and to accept it from others when we need it. Both singles are from Bisson’s upcoming 10th studio album Latchford, due Sept. 15.
Fresh from winning the 2022 Blues & Roots Radio International Song of the Year Contest and recently being nominated for the 2023 Creator Award for the Hamilton Arts Awards, Bisson is turning more and more of the heads he’s worked very hard to reach throughout his very busy, 20-plus-year career. He confidently and joyfully leads a band that can range in size from six to 20 members and has toured Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Europe to many sold out audiences and acclaim.
However, when it comes to songwriting and arranging, Bisson is largely DIY. Once again on Latchford, Bisson has written and arranged all 11 songs, which all follow a more philosophical and broad-minded thread than your typical bunch of blues songs. “The one-word description for the new album is perspective,” offers the five-time Hamilton Arts Awards nominee. “Sometimes it’s not about changing the situation but how we view it.”
As with his previous albums like 2022’s The Ballad of Lucy Stone, Bisson is the sole songwriter, arranger and producer for Latchford but, when it comes to interpreting the tunes and playing most of the wide variety of instruments that bring them to life, it took a talented village. Bisson sings all lead vocals, plays all the electric and acoustic guitars, as well as some percussion and harmonica on the new album. Joining him are Jesse O’Brien on piano and organ, Mike Rowell on bass guitar, Keagan Early on drums, Pat Carey on tenor and baritone saxophone, Shawn Moody on trumpet/flugelhorn, Loretta Hale on trumpet and cello, Rob Somerville on trombone, Paul Barna on violin/viola, Quisha Wint and Selena Evangeline on backing vocals and Dan Rodrigues on additional piano. The album was recorded at Mississauga’s Metalworks Studios with engineering and mixing by Wayne Cochrane Sound and mastering by Chris Crerar Mastering.
Watch the video for Shake above, hear more from André Bisson below, and see what’s shaking on his website, Facebook and Instagram.
