Review by Steve MarckI don’t know how old Dan Mangan is, and Oh Fortune does nothing to suggest how many years he’s spent honing his song writing. If a guess were hinged on his lyrics, he’s outlived most people already and possesses the wisdom to prove it. He’s written laments for a life unspent in Post War Blues; and Leaves, Trees, Forest comes to the realization of just how vast and intricate the world can be. Without condescension or aloofness, Mangan reveals such frank recognitions that Oh Fortune gives many a revelation about his fantastical view of the world around him; which would otherwise seem a dreary, discoloured mess. The music, on the other hand, garners the assumption that Oh Fortune is just as youthful and vibrant as any upstart basement high school band could manage. The differences being that Mangan’s footing is solid, confident, and well-written. The songs could just as quickly sprint through tangled strings and horns as endure the space and quiet of only a lonely vocal. Fervor works well in his favour, as do the grit in his voice and the grace in his guitar, but he never overdoes it- every swell is a well calculated display (Rows of Houses is a damn good example). Oh Fortune is one man’s ageless lessons left to anyone with enough good sense to give him a listen.
