"Aboriginal Angel" is Michael Dyer's third CD (his first and second CDs were: "Nothing Seems Like What It Seems" and "Our Unwinding Time") and like those other CDs, it is an accomplished musical and lyrical work. The first song on the CD, "All Reversed", contains some reversed vocals and reversed lead guitar music, all harmonically intertwined with the forward music. The lyrics are haunting (e.g. "… All the practiced are, now unrehearsed. All the blessed are, now so cursed. All those floating are, now immersed. All the healthy must, now be nursed…") and the vocal harmonies are musically very interesting and enjoyable. The "Aboriginal Angel" song is fascinating in a number of ways. First, it tells a story of a man falling in love with an aboriginal angel who "plays rock 'n' blues on two didgeridoos" and second, it is a rare instance of a folk-rock song in which the didgeridoo (an ancient Australian percussion instrument) is played as a lead instrument opposite a lead guitar. The result should appeal to any didgeridoo fan and hopefully will make others aware of the potential of this instrument as more than merely a background sound. In addition to playing the didgeridoo and lead guitar, Michael Dyer is also very skillful at finger-picking. I particularly like the picking pattern/rhythm in "It's Your Soul, Margot" . The song "So Imminent" reminds one a little bit of Santana, with its Caribbean-style beat. The lead flute is excellent. (It is actually Dyer playing keyboard synthesizer with a synthesized flute effect.) The lyrics are wonderful ("… There’s nothing that you need to recant. You're in me now like a heart implant. My heart beats just for your special essence, oh, for your wild luminescence…"). I very much like the lead guitar riffs in "As You Lay Down" which is a very romantic song; also with wonderful lyrics ("As you lay down, among the flowering, it's a vision, so overpowering. And I see red-violet skies, reflected, in your eyes. The mist, on your bare skin, is a view of heaven. And I wonder, oh wonder, why destiny, has brought me a being, so lovely..."). "What’s the Right Avenue?" shows off Michael Dyer's vocal abilities. As the lyrics describe alternative strategies for approaching the object of his desire, his voice takes on different tonal qualities. "You Gotta Weep" is the longest song and is so full of driving lyrics that it reminds one of Bob Dylan, except that, here, the pace is quicker, with very fast guitar riffs. Many of Michael Dyer's songs have experimental elements, but they never cross the line of losing any musical or lyrical beauty. Each song that stretches the envelope does so only because it is in service of the theme of that song. For example, guitar, drum and bass music only goes backwards in "All Reversed" because the song is about things becoming reversed. The didgeridoo plays lead in "Aboriginal Angel" only because the song is about a song character who plays the didgeridoo. Michael's voice changes in tone throughout "What’s the Right Avenue?" only because the song's lyrics are discussing different ways of wooing someone. The song "Wipe off the Dust" is slowly paced and yet suspenseful. In that song the main character tosses his ex-love's ring into a pond; then tosses her letters into the gutter; then tosses her photos into a fire, and finally tosses their child into the air… You'll have to listen to the song to find out what happens, or you can access all lyrics at his web site: MichaelDyerMusic.com - simply by clicking on any song title. Some of his songs, such as "Didn't Have a Clue" are so sing-along-able that they could easily be classified more as pop rock than folk rock, but all have well-defined bass and lead guitar themes, and many have rich vocal harmonies, in which Michael harmonizes with himself. As in his previous CDs, all instruments and vocals are performed by Dyer, who writes and arranges all of his own lyrics and music. This third CD is a very welcome addition to an already strong collection of songs. Michael Dyer sounds like a mix of: Peter Gabriel, Ben Lee, Rufus Wainwright, Yusuf, Guster, Snow Patrol and Robbie Robertson. His music also reminds one of: Interpol, Mike Doughty, Joe Purdy, The Magnetic Fields, Barenaked Ladies, Doves, Beck, Röyksopp, and with a voice similar to Warren Zevon and to Greg Lake (of Emerson, Lake & Palmer). NOTE: Individual songs are available for digital downloading at the iTunes Store and at Amazon.com What listeners have said about Michael Dyer's prior songs: "…Absolutely amazing!... Michael.... you are the most amazing of all. I love your songs. I love your lyrics even more…" "…Michael. I just love your voice... it is almost haunting, in that it fills you up, and yet you just want more. I love the guitar…" "…Your music is very personal and emotional which is two strong qualities to have. I also like music that makes you want to sing along and that you find yourself humming even when you are not listening to it." "…Your depth of emotion, and reaching so deeply into the soul....being able to express what we feel, but can't express...that's what you do so well… your voice is one of mellowness, soothing, trustfulness, warmth, feeling inside the heart and body...strumming the inner soul with your words and voice...." "…Your guitar sounds great !!!... musicianship is excellent…"