Paul McDonald

Demo

Play 90 second soundbite of 'A Girl On A Train' @ 'CD quality'

This demo was entered into the 2008 Toxic Pete / ffg Studios Studio Time Competition

The eloquent, dextrous, versatile and somewhat reclusive talent that is Paul McDonald sent me this demo and characteristically gave himself a really low-key (to the point of being not so much a 'build-up' but more of a 'knock-down' actually) description in his press-pack. Anyway, this is a superbly executed demo that tells you much more about Paul McDonald than the man himself will!!

Seven beautifully written songs - seven pieces of gold - but just seven small parts of the multi-facetted Paul McDonald. This guy has a natural talent with words and poetry - as luck would have it, he's also quite a virtuoso on the acoustic guitar (6 and 12 string) and what he's done here is given a part of himself in musical form, a sort of gift from the heart of PMcD to any openly receptive like-minded heart that's willing to let him in. As a wordsmith McDonald is well blessed; his words cut through the crap, tell it like it is, like it ought to be. But, McDonald's style isn't brash - oh no, McDonald is sentimental, emotional and honest. This guy doesn't even understand the word 'ego' - McDonald doesn't do 'me' - McDonlad would rather give than receive and here he's giving something very genuine, very worthwhile and very very tasty.

McDonald reluctantly describes his style as 'folk' but confesses that he doesn't like that classification. So, lets make his something more modern - I think Paul McDonald is 'nu-folk acoustic' - that seems to fit him well and does him justice. Anyway, back to the demo - simplistic in form with just voice and precisely picked guitar - no frills, no extras, nothing to detract from the words and their meaning. Beautifully chilled, if a little morose sounding at times, McDonald's songs just do what they're supposed to do, no more and no less. McDonald's quirky, proper-diction, delivery is oh so British and oh so suited to his poetic ramblings. The man's a fine writer and a very fine musician. Hey, on top of that Paul McDonald is one of the quietest, most unaffected people you're ever likely to meet. Musically reclusive, biographically self-deprecating, artistically openly self-critical - sounds like a disaster area doesn't he?! But, that's just the way Paul McDonald is about his music - suffice to say he's a bloody lot better than he thinks he is and it's about time he put his songs down on disc - hopefully this will be just the start. I hope Paul McDonald continues to lay his wonderful music down to disc and I hope Paul McDonald never changes his modest way - that's just Paul McDonald!! Great stuff this!!

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