Layne Greene
Kingston, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF | AFTRA
Music
Press
Fall is the perfect time of year to wallow in self-doubt and existential crisis. Gloomy weather and dying foliage make for an appropriate backdrop, which means all that remains is the perfect album to accompany it. Enter Layne Greene, who’s managed to bottle this experience with his latest album, Resolutions.
Although the album was recorded at The Farm in Port Howe, Nova Scotia, it could easily have been recorded in the depths of a tranquil forest. Greene plays with ambience and flourishes of sound to craft a dreamy veneer that layers every song on the album. His mellow voice and delicate guitar picking have all the sensibilities of pure folk. However, Greene does a lot of magic with keys that bring the songs to another plane entirely.
Though there’s a general sense of melancholy throughout the album, the opening track seems to set the core mood. “22 Blue” deals with the concept of hard times being made that much harder by the passing of time. There’s a dull sense of hope that things will get better, which is another major theme that Greene sings about.
This sense of transiting sadness, fittingly enough, is a recurring theme as the album goes on. Even when it’s not explicitly being sung about, it buries itself into the foundation. In “The Edge of Town”, it’s the uncertainty of leaving behind what you know for bigger things. In “Inflation”, it’s the hope that those bigger things even exist in the first place.
Greene breaks away at times from the gentle reflectiveness that he spends most of the album exploring. “August 31” has a building distortion in the chorus that adds a fun dynamic to an otherwise peaceful song. Meanwhile, the title track has a pumping heartbeat lacking from the bulk of the album. The changes of pace are never overbearing or out of place, but instead serve as small bursts of energy to keep us going.
The album makes its debut just in time to play it in the background of all your Halloween festivities. It might not be scary in a particularly obvious way, but if you think about it, is there really anything scarier than grappling with your own sense of self? Listen to this album and decide that for yourself. - The East
SABS Note of Noteworthiness
SEA AND BE SCENE TV spent a wonderful day in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia during which we were treated to a wonderful performance by Layne Greene . It was great to hear a track from Layne Greene's debut CD EVERYWHERE AROUND HERE. Be sure to pick up a copy of this cool album or better yet - WIN a copy by watching SABStv. - Sea and be Scene
See article for review, it's in French and I dare not paste my poor attempt at translation. - Piggledy Pop: Layne Greene
Discography
Resolutions (2019)
Everywhere Around Here (2015)
Photos
Bio
Originally from New Glasgow, NS, Layne Greene is a indie/folk musician currently based in Kingston, ON.
His first album Everywhere Around Here (2015) was produced by Dale Murray, and featured appearances by Christina Martin and Fleur Mainville. Layne spent 2 years following the release playing regular shows around the Maritimes, including spots at Stan Rogers Folk Festival (Canso, NS) and In the Dead of Winter (Halifax, NS).
"Nine artfully crafted tracks that would make the late John Lennon smile." - Baxter Labatos, Sphere Music
"...a good range of sounds and flavours on [Everywhere Around Here], whether down to Greene's writing chops, Murray's production skills or just something in the ether during the sessions." - Aaron Cameron, Pictou Advocate
After relocating to Moncton, NB, Layne switched focus to writing new material for his forthcoming second album. Also produced by Dale Murray, this album has taken a step away from the groundwork laid in Everywhere Around Here, with a more defined indie/pop sound.
His second album will be released in 2019 with supporting dates around Ontario and the Maritimes.
Band Members
Links
