PARRSBORO, N.S. – It has been a long time since Lennie Gallant has been in the studio.
But making a new album after a long hiatus can sometimes be like going back to a familiar pastime or hobby – even its been nine years in between.
Gallant, a native or Prince Edward Island, has just released Time Travel – an album that takes listeners on a trip that delves into journeys of the heart, our time on the plant, contact in the universe, ancient myths, legends and an oddly confused ghost.
“It’s hard to believe this is my first studio album in nine years,” Gallant told the Amherst News. “In between, I’ve released albums but they’ve all been live and done quite well. It’s pretty cool, though, to be back in the studio recording music with some fabulous players.”
Gallant will return to Parrsboro on Friday, Sept. 14 at the Hall. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.thehall.ca
“The songs reflect our short time here on the planet and touch on some themes of our travel on the planet and how we react to that travel,” he said. “I’m pretty excited about it. Along with my regular band, I got some great players like the Atlantic String Machine, Rose Cousins, Mary Jane Lamond, Jenn Grant and The Fretless.”
Gallant said Time Travel is an exciting, explorative and deeply evocative album that will be sure to move the listener on many levels. His rich vocals are brought to the fore on this
recording and the often lush and full arrangements provide the ideal setting for them to shine.
The new album was produced by Daniel Ledwell (Jenn Grant/ David Myles).
“I think any fans of my earlier stuff will really enjoy this album,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed working with Daniel Ledwell on this project.”
The early response from industry insiders is it’s considered his "finest recording to date."
Gallant is recognized by his peers as one of Canada’s best performing songwriters.
He will be heading out on the road to promote the album, touring Alberta and British Columbia in October and November and then heading east to Ontario in March with shows around the Maritimes in between.
Along with featuring many of the songs from Time Travel, Gallant will also be playing many of his fans’ favourites including The Band’s Still Playing, Man of Steel, Which Way Does the River Run, Tales of the Phantom Ship and Back to Rustico.
“I never get tired of playing those songs. I get a lot of energy from playing those songs and the fans give us a lot of energy when they hear them,” he said.
A prolific songwriter, Gallant has recorded 12 albums (10 in English and two in French), which have won him a host of awards and nominations from the JUNOs, Canadian Folk Music
Awards, East Coast Music Awards and Les Prix Éloizes.
He was recently honored with the Canadian Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year. He is the 2017 East Coast Music Awards Entertainer of the Year and also won the 2017 ECMA Folk Recording of the Year for his live double CD album, "Searching For Abegweit".
In 2017, he finished his fourth summer theatre season in P.E.I. and followed that with an East Coast tour of his multimedia hit musical, Searching For Abegweit - The Island Songs & Stories of Lennie Gallant.
The immensely popular production ran for over 140 shows.
Twitter: @ADNdarrell