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"I
think if there's a theme on the record, it's actualizing a dream."
So begins the story of singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer MARK LANE's solo debut GOLDEN STATE OF MIND, a stunning array of impressionistic songs with lush sonic textures set for national release this Spring.
The album initially began when MARK recorded five songs for GOLDEN STATE OF MIND with friend and fellow musician Jason Falkner in the latter's home studio. When Falkner's touring schedule prevented any further collaboration, MARK continued the process in his own basement studio--playing the majority of the instruments himself--with additional contributions from D.J. Bonebrake (X, Superstring), Mike Bolger (Brazzaville), Chris Joyner (Soul Asylum, Freewheelers), James King, and Ana Lenchantin.
"My goal was to make a classic kind of album, something you'd sit down with in your car or your office or at your house or wherever you listen to music, and put it on and just let it play from the beginning to the end," MARK says of the tracks that make up GOLDEN STATE OF MIND. He adds, "I felt that this particular group--these thirteen songs--really complement each other well."
Mark first garnered attention for himself as the creative force behind "The Hoodwinks," a band he co-founded. After the group disbanded, he subsequently decided that it was time to put his creative energies into a new solo album.
"Clearly and obviously it was my ambition to be in the position where I am now," MARK says. "Where I have my own recording studio and could make this record and basically be in charge of my own destiny."
Mark says the sound of this record was somewhat influenced by the multi-layered sound of albums like George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, and Hawaii by The High Llamas.
"Although the actual recording of the album was basically a series of experiments, I feel the album has a very cohesive overall sound." MARK says. "And suffice to say, I think at some point during the recording, I realized that I was making a sort of West Coast sounding album, hence the title. I'm a big fan of all of that music, everything from the Beach Boys to the Flying Burrito Brothers. It's all kind of assimilating that type of sound."
In the end, MARK's goal with GOLDEN STATE OF MIND is "to leave the listener with more questions. To me, that's ultimately what any great artist hopefully does, to not necessarily provide answers, but instead, only to provoke more questions."
Here's some initial critical praise for the album:
LA TIMES: "Lane's tunes range from folk-and bluegrass-flavored ballads to classic pop ditties--his "Taste of Champagne," for instance, would fit neatly into Randy Newman's songbook..."
Eric Olson, cleveland.com: "Lane recorded, produced, arranged, sang and played most of the instruments himself, which typically leads to a lo-tech vibe, and which is either charming or just plain crappy. Golden State of Mind is way beyond 'charming' into 'quintessential recapitulation of much that is great about So-Cal pop-rock' territory...The result is brilliant. A solo strummed acoustic guitar opens "Girl With the Clouds"-here we go with the lo-fi--which then suddenly blooms into a pastel landscape of whirling Wurlitzer, chiming electric guitar, chipper background oohs and aahs, and a Lennon-esque vocal that finds the ideal balance between the poignant and whimsical halves of living for dreams...Though the music is more bright pop-rock, there is real backbone behind Lane's claims--you believe he has the perseverance to make it. By now the talent is a given."
www.cdbaby.com: "The kind of album that can evoke an involuntary gasp or shriek of 'hooray!' With a brilliant jangle reminiscent of the Beatles, melodies as catchy as Billy Joel, mixed in with lightly swaying rock as well as tinges of Wilco, Mark Lane's album calls for a closer listen. No rookie to the game of making music that drives home the sheer enjoyment of music, Mark's professional approach, production and skill for developing a polished project, top to bottom, makes Golden State of Mind an exceptional disc."
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Here
are some thoughts Mark shared about the writing and recording
of Golden State Of Mind in his own words. You can also
read more reviews of the album here
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