Adam Mugavero
Breathe
(Unsigned Artist) 2004
by Jim McCoy

NY Songwriter Shows Promise on Debut Bedroom Demo

Two years ago, the Long Island-born, Manhattan-based Adam Mugavero began using an old computer in his Brooklyn apartment to lay down tracks written while the once-aspiring musicologist picked up a couple of degrees at the University at Buffalo. The end result of his labors is a very listenable, full-length recording from this (currently) unsigned singer-songwriter.

Mugavero cites a number of likes and influences - ranging from Neil Young, Nick Drake and John Lennon to Bloc Party and Iron and Wine - but it is his 'indie' leanings that are most apparent here. Not many contemporary records outside of the bluegrass or folk realm would place guitar, banjo, mandolin, guitar and strings on one track; even fewer still could endeavor to use all of these instruments and do it tastefully and effectively. Mugavero succeeds in doing this for the most part, perhaps drawing on the musical knowledge gained while studying classical piano as a youth.

The opening track, History, sneaks a banjo into the background without sounding hokey or as if it was simply done for its own sake. Similarly, Late Night Conversations manages to meld a mandolin, guitar, cello, lap steel and a Pink Floyd-like radio playing in the background into a cohesive, yet markedly not mainstream, work that does not fall victim to overplaying or unnecessary melodrama.

Not all of the disc's ten tracks, however, fall squarely into the indie mold. Already Miss You is a concise, piano-based ballad with latent power that is clearly influenced by Lennon's solo work but is not blatantly derivative. The Waschugal River - about a trip to Washington state with a group of friends - moves nicely thanks to some programmed drums, and the title track shows that Mugavero is not opposed to well-placed modern electronic treatments as he displays some good vocal ability. His website also tells us that one track, Have Mercy, was placed in a short film featuring Tim Roth, Amanda Peet and Robery Downey, Jr.

Mugavero clearly has potential as a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. His arrangements are sound and he has the ability to drop backing vocals and various instruments into the right places. The disc certainly makes one ponder what Mugavero might be able to accomplish with these songs given a reasonable budget and a complete, modern studio at his disposal.

Breathe is available at cdbaby.com.