Isaak, Brandon (aka Yukon Slim) - Here On Earth

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Nominated by 2014 The Maple Blues Awards for:

-Album of the year / Producer of the year
-Song Writer of the year
-Acoustic act of the year (WON)

You might try to categorize Whitehorse native Brandon Isaak as a phenomenal guitarist – the licks rolling effortlessly off his guitar, whether electric or acoustic, are some of the finest you’ll hear anywhere. Or as a vocalist – so few guitarists are actual singers, yet Isaak eclipses the category with his sweet, gentle rasp and his elastic ability to bend your ear. How about his harp-playing? Having learned from one of Canada’s best, Dave ‘Hurricane’ Hoerl, Isaak has seamlessly blended his distinctive harp sound into so many of his original compositions that they wouldn’t sound as complete without it. You could easily brand him a singer-songwriter – he’s gone beyond his last solo release, Bluesman’s Plea, to craft yet another crisp cache of originals as valuable as anything you’d uncover off the Yukon trail. Each song tells a tale – Isaak’s storytelling abilities having blossomed into one of his most distinguishing strengths. You might throw all four labels together in an attempt to sum up the man’s ability with a song and his uncanny ability on all three instruments – but it wouldn’t capture the true sum of his parts. Isaak possesses an old-fashioned, deep-rooted musicianship right through to the bone. A seasoned road warrior and proud Yukon son, he lives to play and possesses and old-soul, natural capability to entertain on many levels at once. It’s more than a simple joie de vivre and he does it all so instantly, so casually and – seemingly – without any effort at all. He’s a throwback to a time of minstrels who played for their supper – or starved. Whatever his motivation, Brandon Isaak makes it all look and sound so easy as he channels his innate abilities and rich musical knowledge into each performance. Without blinking and with the utmost conviction.

Joined at the hip, here, by the mercurial acoustic bassist (and fellow off-duty Twister), Keith Picot, the added element of chemistry kindled by their friendship is distinctly audible. Produced by Brandon’s brother, Chris, Here On Earth is a family affair in which blood proves thicker than digital – the success of this pairing speaks for itself.

Release all expectations and prepare to be thoroughly entertained across Isaak’s usual grab-bag of genre-bent songs – each sounding instantly familiar, served up with conviction and revealing an undeniable ability to grab our attention and give us a loving, soulful shake.
-Eric Thom

Produced by Chris Isaak

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