D. Mulligan plays Prescott's Raven Cafe at 7 pm, Friday June 15. For info visit www.ravencafe.com.

Following is a review of Mulligan's album, The Late Great Southwest.

Reflections of our neighborhood desert grace the surface of D. Mulligan's The Late Great Southwest like fine Red Rock dust. Flushed rout acoustic melodies reminiscent of the old South-Western cowboy musicians of the 60's and 70's, D. Mulligan draws parallels between the internal and external landscapes. The vast emptiness of the desert is accurately embodied in the spacious full sound D. Mulligan's group, The Carmel Formation. Complete with soaring slide guitar and lush keyboards, song after song relates personal stories that reference local Arizonan cities and landmarks. Through his songwriting, Mulligan seems to reflect with honesty and appreciation the experience of growing up here.

The song The Pace of Change has a more universal message, a commentary on the current style and speed of American life. I was most engaged by the clever way the music amplified and embellished the climax of the song. Pulling the ear out of its usual anticipatory state and into the unexpected using complex rhythms and key shifting.

In the song Miriam, Mulligan fondly remembers profound experiences and eloquently captures them with simplicity. The song, Collapsible Plans, opens up into a spacious theme of torn love. Detailed, descriptive poetry weaves the story of the unraveling of two lovers in a seedy desperate plight while simultaneously referencing in inherent sense of unity.

In Don't Wake Up, Mulligan uses traditional song structure and rhyme to echo one the the oldest, universal sentiments. An impassioned lover begs his beloved not to wake up and leave in the morning.

The Late Great Southwest is both modern in its extensive production and yet, continues to give a sense of true South Western tradition. D. Mulligan will be performing in Prescott this weekend at the Raven Cafe. His CD, The Late Great Southwest is available at http://www.dmulligan.net/.