Doveman Returns! (Minus Kenny Loggins…)

New album of original material features plenty of star cameos, and more.

By Blurt Staff

Last year we ran a feature on Doveman (that's Thomas Bartlett to his ma and pa) and his groundbreaking 2008 reimagining" of the Footloose soundtrack. Kevin Bacon was mighty proud... Keyboardist Bartlett has also worked with the likes of The National, Antony, Bebel Gilberto, The Swell Season/The Frames and Martha Wainwright, and he's a pretty in-demand session cat.

Now comes word that he's returning to his Doveman persona for a new album, The Conformist, due Oct. 20 from the Brassland label. He'll be backed by members of The National along with longtime collaborators Nico Muhly and Sam Amidon.

The details, courtesy Brassland:

Doveman is the project through which Bartlett steps forward as a songwriter and front man, and on The Conformist, produced by Grammy Award winner Patrick Dillett (David Byrne, Caetano Veloso, Mary J. Blige), Bartlett is heard singing in his unique voice throughout, in addition to playing multiple instruments. Though Bartlett is classically trained and technically proficient‹he dropped out of high school to study in London with Maria Curcio--the album¹s eleven tracks are mostly straightforward pop-rock songs; much of their richness lies in the atmospheric soundscape in which Bartlett situates his compositions. He performs the music with a core band that includes The National members Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner and Bryan Devendorf; Nico Muhly; longtime Doveman member Sam Amidon; and a string section. The Conformist also features a number of surprising guest vocal performances, with turns by Martha Wainwright, Matt Berninger (The National) and Norah Jones, among others.

The Conformist is Bartlett¹s first collection of original material since 2007's With My Left Hand I Raise the Dead. Fall-winter tour dates will be announced soon.

Track Listing

1. Breathing Out

2. The Best Thing

3. Memorize

4. Hurricane

5. Aftermath

6. From Silence

7. The Cat Awoke

8. Angel¹s Share

9. The Burgundy Stain

10. Tigers

11. Castles