Vancouver's Dan Mangan proves that sincerity and soft-spoken honesty will always find an audience. Since he released his first acoustic EP, All At Once (2003), at the age of 20, Mangan has evolved from a community favorite to an international name. His clear-spoken vocals, lined with a quavering insecurity, relay a mixture of conviction and humility. The effect is calming, even reassuring. And Mangan clearly knows how to produce a record, too. His songs showcase a knack for instrumental arrangements that often require as many as 20 musicians playing on guitar, horns, strings and percussion.
These styles come together to form a story on his latest album, Nice, Nice, Very Nice. Likened to the intimacy of Bon Iver and the experimental folk of fellow Canadian Chad VanGaalen, Nice, Nice, Very Nice gives voice to life's ups, downs and in-betweens. Listen to World Cafe host David Dye highlight two of its best tracks.
Copyright 2010 XPN
