Daniel Wylie - More Melodic Sunshine………….

More Melodic Sunshine………….

By Pete Clemons

Daniel Wylie is a singer songwriter who appeared in several bands, and as a solo artist, during the 80s and 90s in and around the Glasgow area.

And then Daniel created the Cosmic Rough Riders who, aided by Stephen Fleming, became a duo. CRR then flourished into a full blown band after they had enlisted the services of Mark Brown and James Clifford. But then, during 2002, Daniel left his own band and reverted back to becoming a solo performer again.

During their existence Cosmic Rough Riders developed a warm and generous sound that couldn’t help but make you smile, and sing along to, when in their company.

Cosmic Rough Riders came to my attention shortly after the album ‘Enjoy the Melodic Sunshine was released on the Poptones label during the year 2000. A single released from that album ‘Revolution (In the Summertime)’ gave the band its first hit. This was followed by popular release from the album ‘The Pain Inside’.

And CRR were very good live as well. I remember well, seeing them perform at the Godiva Festival and again, this time in an acoustic setting, at a record shop in Coventry.

Even after Daniel’s departure, for me at least, Cosmic Rough Riders created some impressive music and, as a complete body of work, CRR have left us with a hugely enjoyable legacy.

Daniel then signed a solo deal with Measured Records and released two albums the first ‘Ramshackle Beauty’ followed by an album of outtakes titled ‘Postcards’.

Another new label brought another new album as ‘The High Cost of Happiness’ dropped during August 2006 on Neon Tetra Records.

But all that is now history and a decade or more has passed. And now 2017 has seen Daniel release a new album that brings us some more much needed melodic sunshine.

Daniel did release a vinyl only L.P. during 2015 called ‘Chrome Cassettes’ but I am yet to listen to this.

Released a few weeks ago this latest CD, titled ‘Scenery for Dreamers’, was a part of my summer listening and it has since endured several repeated visits.

The first thing that struck me was the disc labelling. It paid homage to the 1960s/1970s classic record label Harvest with is distinctive logo. So immediately it was aesthetically pleasing to me.

The ten songs, 7 with a full band and 3 acoustic, are powerful and are full of hope. In the main this album display’s a positive imagery. But above all the album is chock full of melody, which is the aspect of song writing that Daniel, is clearly, still drawn towards.

I also get the impression, from his songs, that Daniel is more than happy to demonstrate romanticism. Feelings of love resonate throughout this album as they would do in his earlier work.

If not already familiar, you really do need to find the time to listen to Daniel and to the Cosmic Rough Riders. But be prepared to clear some space on you record shelves for his current and back catalogue.

For album details - contact Daniel directly on his Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/daniel.wylie.5