Music therapy for late bloomers.
Jeremy Dion is a practising psychotherapist who writes songs that gladden the soul. His invigorating melodies draw on folk, bluegrass and the lighter end of rock. Dion’s fourth solo album ‘Bend in the Middle’ combines his two occupations. The mountain breezes of his Colorado home blow optimism in gusts that might overwhelm those of a more sceptical frame of mind. But Dion’s skill is in balancing just the right mix of positivity with understanding and, above all, sincerity.
Dion grew up on John Denver, James Taylor, and Paul Simon, all evident in his music now. Add to that his love of the Grateful Dead while studying psychology at UC Berkeley. Dion’s therapy and music appear inseparable, perhaps because his songs reveal such an innate curiosity in people.
With a group of local musicians, Dion opens with the relaxed vibe of ‘All I See Is You’, a pure love song to an energetic tempo with breaks that feel like exhalations. Dion’s harmonising with Kate Farmer intermingling with deft guitar runs and distant fiddles immediately boost the mood. Dion describes the title track as “the theme song to my life as a therapist”. The message is simple, his therapy is based on looking within, “We gotta work it out from the inside”. Problems arise, “If we don’t start to bend in the middle”. Dion matches lyrical determination with a punchy beat supported by layers of keys. The Garcia picking comes through too.
Optimism oozes from every pore of ‘Loving Our Friends’, a happy gallop that exhorts the perils of ignoring ourselves at the expense of keeping up with friends and habits that have faded long ago. Dion takes a step back in the bridge to reflect, “You have come so very far” and encourages, “Now surely you’re aware that you’re a star”.
‘Second Hand’ is about transition and a tough one. To a robust rock sound Dion concludes, “Time’s only time and the longer we linger the more it matters”. He and his wife split and he now lives a far happier life with his husband. But a constant is his family and especially his daughter who features in ‘Sweet June’, a delightful look back at her childhood as she sets out for college. Drenched in love James Taylor springs immediately to mind. Dad reminisces further on ‘Avery’, a blend of Garcia and traditional bluegrass to accompany fond thoughts about his daughter as he pledges, “Just turn and I’ll be right behind”.
For ‘Better Know My Name’ Dion changes direction to more edgy rock and soul reflecting the lyrics about meeting a kid he worked with on a social security programme twenty years previously. ‘The Haunting’ closes the record on an uncharacteristically gloomy note as Dion relates the tragic end of a bride swept away into the sea on her wedding day. A morose cello and harmonies combine to sound as if they come from the dead.
Dion has been described as “relentlessly optimistic”, a trait not usually associated with americana. For us Brits too much positivity can be greeted with a degree of cynicism. But ‘Bend in the Middle’ banishes such doubts and we could all do with a lift. Dion conveys empathy and trust. This reviewer would certainly sign up for further sessions.
