Dan Black - Un Review

Posted by David Hayter on 03.03.2010

The latest solo scenester from the UK attempts to break the US market. Will Dan Black have more success on the other side of the Atlantic than he did in his native land? Or will he join the every growing list of acts who tried and failed in the US?



Dan Black - Un

1. "Symphonies" 3:41
2. "U + Me =" 3:11
3. "Ecstasy" 4:11
4. "Alone" 3:33
5. "Cocoon" 4:22
6. "Yours" 3:27
7. "Pump My Pumps" 3:35
8. "Wonder" 3:41
9. "Cigarette Pack" 4:16
10."Life Slash Dreams" 3:46
11. "I Love Life" 3:12
12. "Let Go" 5:00


Dan Black burst onto the UK indie scene in late 2008/early 2009 in what appeared to be a second wave of sonic expansion from European singer songwriters. Standing side by side with the likes of Tommy Sparks and Frankmusic, Dan Black for a time was as cool as it got, one of 2009’s most scene acts. Of course like so many others the buzz on this side of the Atlantic cooled after breakthrough single and indie disco anthem "Yours" faded from the public's consciousness. His album was greeted with little fanfare and by the time the festival season rolled around Dan Black seemed like indie’s forgotten man. This makes it all the more surprising that Dan Black’s debut record Un has earned itself a US release, after all the UK’s most popular acts have had their backs broken trying to crack the US, so the thought of a UK underachiever trying his hand at the US market with major label backing seems baffling.

Perhaps the UK missed a trick, did those record label big wigs spot something special in Mr. Black that we all missed? Does Un have more to offer than just a selection of minor hits and dance floor fillers? Have we brushed over one of 2009’s great debut albums? Well Dan Black certainly has some tough competition, while the UK has produce scares few credible male singer song writers, the UK’s woman have been setting the world on fire with the sincerity and bravery of Lily Allen, the inner torment and big voice of Amy Winehouse, and more recently with the creativity and drive of Florence + The Machine and La Roux. So it’s against this back drop, facing more competition than ever that Dan Black and Un seek to carry the flag for British male scenesters.

The first thing that strikes you on Un is the production, this is a slickly produced record, for a man who made his name with a lap top covers of Notorious B.I.G Mr. Black sure has come along way. The entire record has smooth edges; it’s sleek, and sharply packaged. It these qualities that ultimately define Un, and while their is no doubt that while Un is a well presented and pleasant listen it never feels thrilling, dangerous or noteworthy. This is an album weighed down by tracks like "Cigarette Pack", where Black offers up a slick charming r’n’b package. The track flows nicely and is undoubtedly pleasant but it feels strangely vacant, completely light on substance, it’s as though the concept never goes further than the semi-clever chorus: “All My Plans On The Back Of A Cigarette Pack”.

This is a recurring theme on the synth laden Un; Dan Black presents a series of witty one liners and punchy sentiments which grab your attention but when it comes to developing these interesting themes into a full fledge artistic statement Dan Black is found wanting. On tracks like "Symphonies" and "Life Slash Dreams", two of the albums successes, the concept works best but still feels unremarkable. "Life Slash Dreams" floats gorgeously on a sea of strings as Dan coos “Life Is Life, Dreams Are Dreams, And I’m Floating Somewhere In Between”, its wonderful effect and creates a truly tranquil and hypnotic chorus, but the verse undermines the whole affair as Dan reaches for horrid cliché couplets and goofy squeaky vocal effects. What seemed like a genuinely intriguing sentiment has been undermined by brain dead posturing.

It’s this lack of sincerity that really hurts Un, when compared to Lily Allen, Black looks light weight. When Allen offers up a weak track the power of her nitty gritty honest song writing talent carries the track with an interesting insight or an irresistible couplet; Black almost has the opposite effect, he has plenty of good ideas, he knows what shapes to throw but he doesn’t have the talent or perhaps the sincerity to carry them through to any kind of interesting conclusion. Black appears to be a shop mannequin dummy he looks good, he dressed in all the right clothes, he’s pulling the trendiest shapes but there’s nothing behind the facade, he can’t hope to compare to the real deal. This is worst displayed on "I Love Life" a track that crunches with a beat that’s begging for club rotation, while Dan Black lays down a series of moronic verses full of empty sentiment designed to appear cool while he throws in a vaguely arty chorus that couldn’t feel less heartfelt if it tried.

For all Dan Black’s weaknesses he still manages to muster a few genuine hits. "Symphonies" is a undoubted success, not because of it’s nods to Jay Z, but because it’s one of the rare moments on Un where you can make a genuine connection with Black as he sounds genuinely heartfelt and inspiring;

“The Lights Of The Cars Go By In A Stream, Seems Like I Stand Pretty Much Unseen, But I Open My Eyes And Beams Come Out, Gimmie Gimmie Symphonies, Give Me More Than The Life I See, Score Rises Up, Angels Play And My Loneliness Get Blown Away”.

"Symphonies" goes to show that when posturing plays second fiddle to sincerity Dan Black can make powerful music in spite of his penchant of cheesey couplets. There is also a healthy middle ground to be found on Un tracks like "U + Me =" and "Alone" can’t measure up to "Symphonies" or "Yours" but they are undeniable catchy and good solid album tracks. "Wonder" on the other hand is the one track where Black’s attempts at being oh so cool succeeds; as he seems to have saved up all his ice cool one liners for this very track and it proves that when he gets this formula right he can deliver good throwaway singles. Of course Black’s original breakthrough "Yours" is still as hypnotic as ever but it’s sadly offset by "Pump Your Pumps" an attempted club banger so morose you can actually feel your IQ decaying with each boorish note.

Un therefore is not without it’s charms, but they are hidden below layers and layers of frilly window dressing and wannabe posturing. Dan Black has perfected the art of striking the right poses, if you were one of the people wowed by "Yours" you can be forgiven for thinking that Dan Black is both ice cool and a heavy weight songwriter, but of course on closer inspection he is anything but. Black knows how to pull the right shapes but when the gloss is removed there is nothing to be seen. Black as an individual desperately lacks sincerity, he’s an artist who needs something to say, as there is no doubt that he is talented artist capable of arranging tracks that will capture attention, but are unfortunately unable to hold it. In many ways what Dan Black has created is worse than a bad record, he’s made a bland record, competently executed, easy to like, but impossible to love. He never makes a connection with the listener; you can’t fall in love with Black character because all we’re offered is a facade. And as the men of the UK have discovered time and time again, if offered the choice between an ice cool facade and a fragile torn heartfelt individual the public will chose the latter every single time.

Tracks To Download: Symphonies, Wonder & Yours

The 411: Yet again the UK's men fail to match up to their ladies. Dan Black presents a shining package in Un that appears cool and impressive from a far, but upon closer inspection offers nothing of interest. Dan Black clearly lacks inspiration and sincerity and instead offers posturing and semi-witty one liners. The result is an album that is at best light weight and catchy and at worst vacant, morose and unlovable. Dan Black's name can be added to a long list of male singer song writers who have tried and failed to answer the UK's trail blazing ladies.

Final Score:  4.5   [ Poor ]