Home; its looming, desperate call throbs in the brain and body of any Cape Breton’er that crosses over the Canso Causeway. Mike McKenna Jr. has set a relaxed backbeat to its pulse to ease the weary traveler.
Mike McKenna Jr. has seen a lot of road and has been exposed to considerable greatness for a young man. Working with 23-year old graduate of Berklee School of music, Quin Bachand, and living in Montreal has not stolen Mike McKenna Jr.’s heart of away from the island and Cape Breton’s lilt remains in his lyrics and melodies.
At the Edge of the World is a slow burn. It is measured and patient, making each gesture of rising and falling tone and texture feel like a big event. To the ear it is reminiscent of Amos Lee, concentrating on the soulful nature of McKenna’s voice, using drums and orchestration sparingly and masterfully exploring the ground between R&B and Folk.
This selection of songs surprised me and took risks where I didn’t expect them, which is much appreciated. Stand out moments include the Hendrix-esque guitar tones breaking up soulful the “Caught in the Middle”. Co-written with Nova Scotian-turned Nashville star Makayla Lynn, the song contains a stunning psychedelic bridge culminating in McKenna’s soothing vocal re-entering to remind us all what butter tastes like.
“The Wolf” with its incredibly dry, close-mic’ed sound, provides you with a vivid claustrophobic feeling that is evocative of the lyrical content, and makes for easy pickings as one of the album’s standout tracks. It’s in good company alongside the saturated guitar and vocal combination, squished and oozing vibe, on “My Room,” and McKenna’s inspired cover of Rita MacNeil’s “Working Man,” both of which are among my favourite moments.
If you are sitting on your porch with a case of Oland Export and feeling particularly introspective, this album will hold you in its big, strong, longshoreman arms and whisper its lullabies in your ear. McKenna shines when he is most stripped down and using his band to create intrigue and atmosphere.