If you're ever sad enough to punch your own name into Google you might discover a gospel album by a hot new Appalachian folk singer too!
Daniel Martyn Moore is a singer-songwriter from the small town of Cold Spring, Kentucky. On the basis of a 4 track demo he was signed to former grunge label Sub Pop Records where he released his debut album. He subsequently toured with Iron & Wine and My Morning Jacket (whose Jim James plays banjo on several songs here).
IN THE COOL OF THE DAY is his third album. It is collection of gospel songs largely inspired by his upbringing. Some are original compositions by Daniel, others half-remembered and reinterpreted standards that his mother and grandmother used to sing to him as a child.
His gently smooth vocals are backed by guitar, banjo, piano and at times a mournful violin. It's an intimate recording and every detail can be heard; the slide of fingers up his guitar strings, the smack of his lips as he delicately enunciates every word.
At times its mellowness gets dangerously close to coffee shop folk, due largely to how soft and easy it all sounds. What stops it toppling over into Starbucks faux folk is Daniel's obvious passion for the music and the authenticity with the songs are performed. Were it not for the pristine sound of the recording many of the stripped-back songs could have been recorded decades ago and certainly some of the songs have been sung for a century or more.
IN THE COOL OF THE DAY is quite simply gorgeous and I urge you to give it a listen particularly the whispered candlelit lullaby 'Softly and Tenderly', the organ led spiritual 'O My Soul' or the more upbeat 'Dark Road'. Links below.
'SOFTLY AND TENDERLY'
'DARK ROAD'
'O MY SOUL'
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