KEITH MARGO - GLITTERBUG

Keith Margo

Glitterbug
self-released; 2014

3.8 out of 5

By Ethan Skeleton

All the way from the Emerald Isle, comes Keith Margo, a bold voice with British influence and great taste with his EP entitled Glitterbug. I’ve always considered the British to be distinguished pioneers of music and I’m not surprised to hear that Margo has his own appeal. Not to say that there aren’t signs of influence and we’ll get into them shortly.

I can’t help but hear a late 70’s ballad in the piano work of “A Beautiful Day To Die.” It holds the focus of the song and presents the listener with a good dose of what’s to come. Margo utilizes the piano like Elton John with the lyricism of Lennon and the rich vocals of something between Billy Corgan and Paul McCartney. And if you’re sound likens to such artists you’re doing something right. The jangling of bells occasionally embellish the tune but nothing more. And you don’t even want more, the piano and voice alone suit the whole album. Again, retro moods issue out of the following tracks, especially on “Now I Only See Her In My Dreams.” Margo’s voice strains on the verge of a whine as he confesses losing the physical reality of love, cue song title. Gentle strings permeate beneath the comfortable combo of guitar and piano like a sermon of romance and regret.

Glitterbug is strewn throughout with short interlude length capsules – “Beginning,” “Baby Lazer” and the aptly named “Ending” that introduces a high, soft twinkling with key selection far to the right. Personally, I feel it could have been further developed, but it’s a quick little treat nonetheless. “Beginning” has some very relatable lyrics – “Baby it’s cold and I want you to stay” has got to hit home for a lot of people. Whether you said it or thought it, it’s an applicable relationship paradigm.

Margo has definitely arrived with this second album and I’m on the look out for more. His mixture of old and new is really something to behold. With every listen the songs grow more and more cohesive and you lose yourself in the simplicity. I’m not sure what Glitterbug means to the album, but I don’t know if I’m supposed to. Maybe you have the answer. Maybe there isn’t one. All I know is, it’s a fine EP. Bravo.

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