Between critically acclaimed and -somehow- sorely underrated, Dave Cavalier seems to have uncanny ability to make some of the most truly unique-sounding contemporary music out there, with the folks at Billboard testifying that he has “The greatest tracks you’ve never heard of". This makes it so that there are only two kinds of people out there: Those who listen to Dave Cavalier and those who are sleeping on him. I'm here today to turn you into the former. since his 2015 debut with "HOWL", Dave has been sculpting and perfecting the highly distinctive hybrid sound that he flies like a banner today with "Civilianaire", an album that will mark a definitive before and after in his career, and one that he's called his best work yet. "I made Civilianaire for myself. Nobody was ever supposed to hear it." says Dave "...It was the first time I wasn't creating alongside an engineer or another producer, it was just me and it was so freeing. I explored new sounds, searching for the right combination of that raw, blues soul from my past and the modern production elements the future of the sound requires." he leaves off, and truly the work is nothing if not futuristic.
As much as one can struggle to define exactly what "Civilianaire" is in terms of genre, finding words of praise for it is another story. This album is easily one of the most inventive, original, vanguardist, and off-the-wall albums I've heard in a long time, only being outshined by obscure psych-rock bands recommended by Youtube's algorithm. But don't make the mistake of thinking that this album may be too crazy or weird, because, for all its originality and experimentation, it is extremely catchy, groovy, and easy to approach from any angle, so it's just as palatable to more mainstream audiences and any Radio station smart enough to pick it up on their playlist. The album starts off strongly in its motif of hybrid Bluesy contemporary electro-pop with "Running With the Devil". What immediately jumps out at you is the underlying EDM thumping aggressively driving the track onwards, as well as Dave's rather unique vocals. However, for all the gritty, night-crawling intensity of "Running With the Devil", I found it immediately overshadowed by its follow-up. "Bad Blood" is every bit as intense but in a different way. While there was some angst to the first track, this one is pure bravado and panache instead. "Bad Blood" thumps just as hard, but it also knows how to be funk and how to Rock & Roll. The funky riffs and chorus-chanting really make this a song suitable for an awesome Ring Walk and it was instantly a favorite of mine. "Do The Right Thing" comes out of the gate with a very different mood. it's a much more calm and introspective track, relying on ethereal synths and Dave's soothing voice to pull you in and perhaps calm you down a bit from having been riled up by the previous two tracks. Though there's some very exotic and noteworthy percussion going on, I think this song definitely showcases Cavalier's songwriting a bit more and that's where your attention should be focused on. It is less catchy and danceable, providing a different perspective on the man behind the album. This is also one of my favorites, though I do have a minor nitpick and it's that I wouldn't have personally set it at number 3 in the track order. "No Regrets" is great R&B, plain and simple. And while I didn't expect to hear that, I can't say that I'm all that surprised given the musical waters that Dave prefers to swim in. Of course, it's also a bit misleading to call it "R&B". Very little in Civilianaire is ever that straightforward and clear-cut. Dave has a pension for messing with expectations, and while "No Regrets" Starts out like something you'd hear from someone like -say- The Weeknd, it quietly blossoms into something entirely its own that I don't think anyone other than Dave Cavalier could have truly come up with. With "Eyes Wide Shut" we return a bit to the gritty edge of the first song, and also a much clearer look into the sensuous and carnal side of Dave's music. This cinematic track has all the deadly grace of a panther and it wants you to know it right away, what's more, in just 4 songs Dave manages to show the great range and versatility he's been (rightly) given praise for in the past. "Change" follows things up with an expected pivot, and though it starts with a downtempo vibe dressed up audio straight from some random channel surfing background noise, it quickly picks up via some really interesting percussion and flourishes into Post-rock greatness. "Change" is among the most experimental and rich songs on the whole album. There's just so many wonderful textures and sounds to mull over, that it was practically a necessity for me to play the track 2 more times before moving on with the rest of the album. I think hardcore music nerds are going to love this one a lot!
Still reveling in post-rock complexities, "I'll be There" is the friendlier and more lyrically-impactful sister song to "Change". though it is a bit easier to take in, that doesn't make it any less rich or interesting, it just packs its intricate musicianship slightly different and more in favor of a "single" style presentation. The following song is one of the Centerpieces for the whole album. "The Hold" was released as a single a little while back and it gave us a taste of what was to come, it's certainly one that people seemed to respond a lot to and that's in no small part due to the lyrical content and the story behind it. To make a long story short "The Hold", is a song that can easily be about a lot of things, but it was formed in the chaos of Dave's life during the lockdown, where he was dealing with the pandemic, the birth of his child and the struggle for his sobriety. Last but not least is "The One". The closing statement for this amazing -if short- album. And if there was one vibe I felt was missing up until this point, it was this very same high-energy synth-heavy rock anthem. In some ways "The One" even reminds me of some of the more Boogie-oriented songs in ZZ Top's repertoire, it has that sly and attitude-heavy danceable sound that sets it apart from anything else in the album, in no small part due to the amazing bassline and the near-orchestral brass sections that pop in across the tract to accentuate the hooks. "The One" sits alongside "Bad Blood" as my personal favorites in the entire album, so much so that they immediately made the jump to my current playlist mixes. There's just such an infectiously bold attitude to them. The "big personality" of both songs really turns up the mood for me, and it's in these two that I felt Dave Cavalier was at his absolute strongest in every regard. All in All, "Civilianaire" was an even more exciting album than I had anticipated, with one of its biggest strengths being how it showcases Dave Cavalier's wild and eccentric musicianship. He called this album his "best work yet" and I'd have to concur, as it feels like he's arrived at a place of absolute confidence and comfort with what he likes and what he wants to put out there.
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