Lojinx (label)
27 February 2012 (released)
26 February 2012
In May 2010, a flood hit DeMain’s hometown of Nashville, filling his basement with over five feet of water – in the process destroying years of personal journals and songwriting books. A few months later, a cigarette butt thrown by a careless neighbour caused a fire that took out his entire home.
Cue thirteen months of what DeMain wonderfully describes as a “bohemian interlude”. He found himself in limbo, couch-surfing and without direction. He decided to turn his attention to making his first solo record. (DeMain makes up one half of cult band Swan Dive).
The cover of the EP shows a suitcase with a few, what can only be, sentimental belongings. Turn it over and the first track is titled; Looking For A Place To Live. DeMain explains that the opener pre-dates the fire and flood that wiped out his home, so here we have a man without direction for some time.
You would be forgiven for thinking that, on the face of it, ‘Extended Stay’ would be a soul-searching, downtrodden affair lamenting his misfortune. Surprisingly, it is the contrary.
The aforementioned song sets the tone for this short EP. DeMain’s silken tones accompany a meandering, plucky guitar-riff. At three minutes, it doesn’t out-stay its welcome, and towards the end of the song DeMain completes the arrangement with some welcome percussion. Undoubtedly, it is one of the EP’s most endearing cuts.
St. Joe’s 75 is more prominent in its approach, delivering a rugged feel with a vocal that is akin to Marc Bolan. The track also features some unexpected rock’n’roll sax, and it gives it a permeating drive. It is, unfortunately, as grandiose as thing are going to get on Extended Stay.
In Your Letter and Honeylove are far from impressionable. With each track not breaching the two-and-a-half minute mark, it is not surprising; it just reeks of throwaway filler, something that is irredeemable on any record.
Common Love Song goes a short-way to reproach things; it gives ‘Extended Stay’ a slight lift in an EP that seems to be devoid of ideas and lacking originality as it progresses.
It’s worthy to note that a great deal of effort has gone into this record, before even hearing a note. DeMain speaks passionately about his dedication to the studio. It maintained his focus. It’s a shame that you cannot hear this dedication resonate throughout ‘Extended Stay’ – a record that starts brightly, and you get the sense that he could potentially sit comfortably in the knowledge that his hard work paid off in earnest.
Unquestionably, DeMain does possess charm, and his lyricism does carry intellect with imagery that you know is very important to him, but with so many singer-songwriters out their just waiting to be discovered, you get the sense that he needs that extra panache to truly release a record that is an essential in your collection, rather than padding out your CD cabinet.
