Michael Rault: New Day Tonight

By Kerry Doole

Michael Rault  - New Day Tonight" (Sleepless Records): This Edmonton-born, Montreal-based singer-songwriter-producer is gainng some well-deserved attention as the first Canadian artist signed to legendary US indie label Daptone (via its subsidiary Wick Records).

His next album, It's A New Day Tonight, will be released on May 18th, and a video for its quasi title track has just come out.

It certainly whets the appetite for the new record. There's an appealingly retro feel to the sound of the song, with Rault's vocal a mite suggestive of Marc Bolan (he acknowledges the likes of Badfinger and Big Star as other influences). The result is pleasingly psychedelic, with strings adding atmosphere. The clean production work comes from Daptone engineer/producer Wayne Gordon.

In a press bio, Rault explains that "the album’s title (and title track) comes from the most Canadian of overheard sources: a pregame interview with a hockey player coming off a rocky night. “He said, ‘It’s a new day tonight, we’ve got to put the past behind us.’ At first, I thought it was an awkward phrase. But I quickly thought: ‘Awkward turn of phrase… or a good album title?’ [The title track] is almost completely describing a very positive nightlife experience, but the opening line implies that this evening is coming as a major relief after spending the majority of the day depressed.” 

Rault kicks off an extensive summer tour at Toronto's Horseshoe on May 22, with other dates including Montreal's Bar 'Le Ritz' (June 2), Edmonton's The Rec Room (June 19), Sled Island in Calgary (June 20), and Fox Cabaret in Vancouver (June 23).

Links