California

Irish singer-songwriter Perry Blake continues his streak of inimitable tunes with Italian producer Marco Sabiu kick-starting the arrangements with extra beats and striking keyboards. Blake turns from a low mumble to a heavenly falsetto with ease. This European success story attempts to address America with a song cycle that acknowledges the land of dreams itself in the title track and “The Road to Hollywood.” Blake’s sullen moments are pulled into the sunlight and he delivers excitable results. “A Face In the Crowd” is a haunting piece that borders on stalker-like with its obsessive hook battling past the keyboard and guitar washes. “Pretty Love Songs” adds even more layers of sound while Blake moves from the Nick Drake and Mark Hollis comparisons to the disco moves of late-‘70s Bee Gees. Blake takes on the electronic age with assurance. “Saying Goodbye” balances between the solemnity of a hymn and a dance track highlighting Blake’s passionate vocals. The ballad “How Can The Knower Be Known?” is haunting in its stripped-down form.