While living in a 35-person village in the mountains of Corsica, David Berkeley wrote the most haunting and powerful music of his life. Upon returning to the U.S., he began recording a collection of these songs. The result, to be released on JANUARY 25, 2011, is Berkeley’s 4th studio album, Some Kind of Cure, rich with the images from that Mediterranean island and even the sounds of the village church bell and Corsican singers that David recorded while there.
Dubbed “a musical poet” by the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE with, "emotional story-telling lyrics, charismatic stage presence, and hilarious anecdotes" (June Wulff, THE BOSTON GLOBE), Berkeley has also written an accompanying book of short stories (one for each of the 13 tracks), 140 Goats and a Guitar - the Stories behind Some Kind of Cure, to be released in conjunction with the album.
David Berkeley is a romantic realist, known for his ability to look at the human condition in all its complexity and give us luminous songs full of sunshine and anguish, melancholy and delight. He brings the people and situations he sings about to vibrant life with a warm, rich tenor that often slips into an aching falsetto to underline the overwhelming emotions that can move us to tears or laughter. He blends folk, rock, and classic pop to create timeless expressions of love and longing. “It may be pop music, but my goal is to be open and honest,” Berkeley says. “I’m not afraid to show fear and weakness. I want my songs to convey hope without denying the hard times we all face.”
Berkeley’s philosophic and poetic lyrics have always set him apart from other singers of his generation.
The songs on Some Kind of Cure feature his best writing yet, from the private whispers of a father to a son in the heartbreaking closing ballad “Winter Winds” to the roadside romance in the up-tempo “Parachute.” His “lustrous melancholy” voice, as described by THE NEW YORK TIMES, has never sounded better.
Produced by Will Robertson and entirely fan-funded, Some Kind Of Cure features Peter Bradley Adams (Eastmountainsouth) on piano, Kevin O’Donnell (Andrew Bird) on drums, Kim Taylor (Over the Rhine) on background vocals, Jordan Katz (De La Soul) on horns and banjo and Lex Price (Mindy Smith) on mandolin and guitars.
David has earned ASCAP's Johnny Mercer Songwriter Award and his song "Fire Sign" was written specifically for and featured in the CBS series Without a Trace. Berkeley has been featured on WFUV, World Caf�, Mountain Stage, XM/Sattelite, NPR, “This American Life” and was recently a finalist in the Mountain Stage New Song competition. He has toured/opened for Dido, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainwright, Ray Lamontagne, Billy Bragg, Don Mclean, Nellie Mckay, Guster, Gary Jules, and many more. His cover of Mark Mulcahy’s “Love’s the Only Thing” appeared on Mulcahy’s tribute record alongside tracks by The National, Michael Stipe, Thom Yorke, Frank Black and Ben Kweller.
For more visit www.davidberkeley.com
Press Contact: Jeff Kilgour of Tijuana Gift Shop jeff@tijuanagiftshop.net
Booking: Amanda Case of AIC Entertainment aic@aicentertainment.com
Licensing: Mike Locke for Rhino Independent Mike.Locke@wmg.com
