Tim Dillinger is one of the most intriguing artists working in the indie soul arena over the past ten years. While well respected among the cognoscenti, he’s still perhaps not as renowned as his talent would suggest. A true artist in all aspects of his life (check his blog at timdillinger.com for further proof), he recently made the controversial decision to release all future solo work via Bandcamp as free downloads, unencumbered by the constraints of the recording industry. For further insight on his reasons for doing this, please check out his blog. Having befriended a number of artists through the indie soul movement, I can understand why some may be baffled and even annoyed at his decision to release his music for free. There’s a genuine concern among many that giving away your talents devalues your worth. That’s certainly true in a traditional monetary sense and by current definitions of getting paid. It’s hard to continue the slog when respect may be all that you’re receiving. But, whether you agree with Tim or not, his music is undoubtedly worthy of investigation.
In addition to his current Gospel EP, Tim has seen fit to release all his previous albums for free via his Bandcamp including his debut album Love is On My Mind, his accomplished sophomore album, The Muse and an interesting remix project. Music consumers have become accustomed to downloading some promo music without any charge, but the quality on display here is far beyond that traditionally put out there. Tim provides full length projects of substance with comprehensive online liner notes detailing each track’s genesis, the recording process and his analysis of the tracks a number of years after their completion. It’s an engaging body of work worthy of any soul fan’s attention. Take a listen to a few of my personal favourites below and then hit Tim’s Bandcamp site to sample for yourself prior to downloading.
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His Gospel EP has been in the offing for quite some time. The wait has certainly been worth it. Anybody who has followed Tim’s work cannot have failed to note his faith, which, although omnipresent through his work, has never been its focal point. The Gospel EP dives deep into his faith, conveying his personal faith with a universal set of cuts appealing to both those in the spirit and soul heads less inclined to dive into the gospel pond. It’s a truism that some of the best soul music of recent times has been gospel. Well, certainly those which avoid the over-produced auto-tuned attempts to be ‘down with the kids’. I’ve lost count of the number of ‘gospel’ projects that have been floated my way that are clearly aimed at ensnaring a younger audience via modern soulless production methods, thus it’s refreshing to hear Tim’s project which sounds at once contemporary (albeit having been recorded in 2007) and timeless. Kicking off with the joyous Please You More, Gospel is a warm and welcoming record, embracing an openness at odds with the over-laboured message that sometimes puts off those listeners who like their soul music with a heavy dose of secularism. Perhaps Tim’s own development as a soul artist allowed him to concentrate on the song, the performance rather than oversinging in praise and worship.
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Recorded in a sympathetic environment, live in the studio, Please You More is the kind of gospel music I love, with a groove that sounds like a hybrid of gospel and the jazzy pop soul perfected by Donald Fagen on the Nitefly (it’s those horns!). It’s bright and breezy, celebratory rather than pious, a perfect summer groove. Tim’s vocal is a definite highlight, building with intensity as the track progresses, yet never losing control. And this is one of the project’s selling points. When artists are moved to record gospel, we’re often assaulted with vocal histrionics, the vocalist so overcome with supposed emotion and spirit that the message gets lost to performance. Those familiar with Tim’s work will know that he’s hardly a slouch vocally, but as with his heroes such as Teena Marie, he knows not to assault the listener, choosing to build the track so that once the real ‘sangin’ sets in the listener has followed its ascension. He knows to take you with him. It matters little whether this is conscious or innate in his performance, the effect remains the same. Born Again offers enough case in point. It’s a bluesy, sweat strewn jam that could easily have been over-reduced to an intense screeching opus, but by the time Tim and his godmother Patricia Morgan, are vamping out, we’re right there with them on this cut that Tim describes as his most personal. Followed up by the blissful For Such A Time As This, a perfect foil to the intense Born Again, and ending with the hymn-like We Are His Glory, Gospel is a a short work that resonates deeper than its playing time.
The message may not be for everyone, such is the nature of gospel music, but regardless of your faith, ‘Gospel’ delivers a rich listening experience and serves to remind us of Tim Dillinger’s musical artistry. It may perhaps resonate deeper with those of faith, but as a simple music lover, I’m left with nothing to do but rejoice at this new material and look forward to more from Tim, whatever the genre.
