Passion for songwriting is something that stays with a person forever. We may be led in different directions occupying our time but the music bubbling up inside us will find the perfect time to explode out of us. That time is now for our recent discovery Patrick Ames and his newest record Slow Dip Ahead.
Hailing from the heart of California wine country, the wordsmith and storyteller has led a full life living his passions. Patrick Ames grew up in a house full of music in Michigan. Mom was an opera singer and his dad and brothers always had Motown music playing. Songwriting became a passion starting in his teens. This love of words led to a long and successful career as a book publisher, but the music dream had to be put aside, until now.
Currently in his late 60’s, Patrick Ames has returned to his songwriting passion, now with decades of word-smithing experience. The latest result is his Slow Dip Ahead album. The 8 track record blends through a wide variety of genre influences while focusing on Ames skill with words and creating emotion.
The opener “More Than I Can Take” eases us in with a raw minimalistic feel and Patrick Ames’ uniquely real heart of his sleeve voice. He lets us deep into his mind with a 3D view. The guitar melody is short but extremely catchy. Be sure it will bounce around in your head for a while. We then transfer into the bouncy fun of “Bop Bop Buddha.” The pace picks up with a slightly 60’s rock feel that grooves as it makes us smile.
There is a dark vibe on “The Lonely Lie” as Patrick Ames sings of the complexity of American Life. He uses his vocal range to make us feel like we are all in the situation with him and can find a way to a better life. That vibe remains on “I See The Windows” with even more of a call to action to make a better world. The deep bass has a bluesy tone allowing the vocals to stand out as the focus.
Slow Dip Ahead closes with the right turn of “Somehow I’ll Find A Way” and its bouncy almost exuberant energy. The lyrical story of finding a better life is fun and we all ride along hoping that Patrick Ames succeeds.
Keep up with more from Patrick Ames on his WEBSITE.
