Mangan's previous solo effort, 2011's Oh Fortune earned him a JUNO Award for New Artist of the Year and for Alternative Album of the Year. Club Meds comes after a two-year hiatus in Mangans' career so he could concentrate on being a father. Blacksmith is formed by a variety of Vancouver musicians, primarily Kenton Loewen, Gordon Grdina and John Walsh. A press release by the group claims that "Through a fog of analog feedback loops and synths, the band’s performances breathe deeply and steadily like a dragon at rest."
Singles
The first single to be released off the album is "Vessel", written for the 2014 filmHector and the Search for Happiness starring Simon Pegg. Mangan composed multiple other instrumental sections and is credited on the film's score. Jason Grishkoff of IndieShuffle said that "I had to keep Dan's new track 'Vessel' on repeat, and the good news is that it pretty much didn't get old". A video for the single directed by artist Ben Clarkson was released on October 21, 2014. Reception to the video was positive with NPR's Bob Boilen writing that "The video is stunning — funny, odd and quirky, but with a sense of purpose" Speaking on the music video and song, Mangan stated that "people are comfortable with a middle-ground safe place. We're afraid to be honest with ourselves and actually work through the highs and the lows and embrace them." The song also features Dave Grohl on backing vocals and slide guitar. A second single, "Mouthpiece", was released November 5, 2014. Spin wrote that "Mouthpiece" was "a memorable cut that should hopefully make the positive word of mouth migrate down to the U.S."
Tour
Mangan has announced a North American tour in support of the album. Beginning October 25, 2014 in Philadelphia and ending in Vancouver on March 14, 2015, the tour comprises 36 dates including a performance at Toronto's famous Massey Hall. Support on the tour include Canadian singer-songwriter Hayden and Calgary act Astral Swans.
Critical reception
Alex Hudson of Exclaim! stated: "This record posits Mangan as a bandleader rather than a solo act, since it's co-credited to his group Blacksmith, and it downplays troubadour-like folksiness in favour of cryptic darkness. Although Mangan is still a balladeer at heart, his mellow songs now come swaddled in blankets of reverb and fleshed out by inventive full-band arrangements that draw on art-rock, worldbeat and jazz."
Track listing
Music composed by Dan Mangan + Blacksmith. All lyrics by Dan Mangan, except where noted.
