"A Sea of Lights" by Nathan Lawr and the Minataurs

"A Sea of Lights"

Minotaru Records/2007

www.nathanlawr.com

While many musicians find that it is stressful enough mentally and physically to play, tour, write, and record for one bad; but Canadian multi instrumentalist Nathan Lawr is busy enough to keep three people on the run constantly.

The Guelph, Ontario native who now makes his home in Sudbury was the drummer for The Constantines on the band's US tour; is a former member of Royal City; and has toured with Jim Guthrie, Sarah Harmer, and Arcade Fire. Currently Lawr performs with his band The Minotaurs both as a small band and as a 13 piece orchestra.

Recently Nathan Lawr released his third album with The Minotaurs titled "A Sea of Lights". The album contains 10 original tracks of music in varying styles. The album opens with a country folk styled tune; but there is also jazz and rock.

There are lyrics with the tunes and the singer has a nice voice but they are frequently drowned out by the instruments and the words are on the nonsensical side anyway. But it doesn't matter because the music is what's interesting and Nathan Lawr keeps you guessing and wanting to hear what's next by constantly changing rhythms, time signatures, key signatures, and musical styles.

On "A Sea of Lights" members of The Minotaurs join Nathan Lawr along with a number of guest musicians but it is Nathan himself who does a great deal of the work on the album by playing several different instruments.

The internet music service iTunes has Nathan Lawr listed as unspecified under the genre listing as it should be because the music on "A Sea of Lights" is a study in contrast to the varying styles of tunes that make up the music world.