There seems to be an ongoing California dream and love of harmony infused pop rock among Scottish musicians. Maybe it has to do something with the weather. Whatever it is, it certainly works. Whether it is the Teenage Fanclub, now practically classic purveyors of such a sound or the new forces like The Carousels.
One of those that are around for a while, but not really making a real breakthrough is Daniel Wylie, whether as a solo artist or as a member and a leader of Cosmic Rough Riders. At one point, at the beginning of the century, they had a chance with their Enjoy The Melodic Sunshine album, but the early demise of Poptones Records lead by former Creation Records Alan McGee didn’t help things.
From then on, through various incarnations of the band, Wylie continued to produce excellent harmony pop/rock, and after a few years of absence comes up with yet another good one, Scenery For Dreamers.
Wylie never tried to cover up the influences that can be heard in his music - Big Star, early R.E.M., Beach Boys, Neal Young, even Steely Dan. All of those can easily be heard here too. Listening to the opener “Rope (Everybody Lies)” and a bit later on to “Cold Alaska”, you can be even fooled that it is not Neil Young guesting on the lead guitar.
And then come in those harmonies that Wylie has been known for from the start and those he can really be proud of because they can be ranked among the best around today.
And with “I Hear You Calling My Name” as well as throughout this album Wylie just confirms that he is one of the currently not recognized pop craftsmen around, that can easily be ranked with the likes of late Chris Bell of Big Star.
What he shows on the perfectly titled Scenery for Dreamers is that if you really know how to incorporate all your influences the right way, you can come up with some engaging and perfectly listenable music. Good to see Wylie and his Cosmic Rough Riders back.
