In Review: Denison Witmer – Are You a Dreamer?

Posted by admin on Jan 23, 2007 in Arts & Culture | 0 comments

Although Denison Witmer lives and records out of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Are You a Dreamer? seems to put you immediately in Southern California, driving along the coast at the tail end of a reflective summer road trip. I suppose that it could also put you in the Lower Mainland of B.C., curled in front of a fireplace with a blanket and some cocoa because your car doors are frozen shut and a tree has fallen over your driveway. But that’s a bit more of a stretch.

From the knitted, woolen album art images to Witmer’s gentle voice and folk fingerpicking guitar rhythms, the entire album exudes a soft, subtle, and textured feel. Your first expectation might be a run-of-the-mill, high-pitched singer-songwriter lost in a distant dream world that’s unrelated to anything actual humans might experience. But you will soon discover more intricate melodies and ongoing themes with a surprising level of depth.

Are You a Dreamer? features guest appearances from the likes of Sufjan Stevens, My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden, and Ester Drang’s James McAlister. Each all-star cast member contributes their distinctive style to Witmer’s continuous narrative exploration of the influence of dreams on reality.

The album carries an ambiance that ranges from sad and melancholy in “Everything but Sleep” to the more upbeat folk-rock title track, which features a full band. With this first offering on the Militia Group label, Denison Witmer proves he carries his weight among his label’s respected peers. He is definitely worth a listen.