Singer-songwriter-producer Steve Dawson is from Vancouver, Canada. He is one of the most innovative players of the resonator guitar in Northern America. A busy man has had a little time to do some music of his own. Rattlesnake Cage is his 6th album. All the tracks are instrumental and captured with only one microphone. In this case less is more. Dawson plays many different acoustic instruments, like 6 and 12 string guitars, dobro and Weissenborn Hawaiian guitar. You can hear something like Ry Cooder, Leo Kottke or even Mississippi John Hurt in them.
Dawson sounds as if everything is so simple and easy for him, so many listeners probably forget that he has years and years hard practicing behind him, and without that you simply cannot make this kind of great music. Guitars are jangling and melodies roll on. He has written all the songs on the album, and even though they are very familiar sounding, you simple can’t say no to good music even if it reminds you of something you’ve heard before. The only thing that bothers me is that the album is a bit short.
This album is a must to all lovers of good guitar music. Dawson says that sometimes it's simply the best to sit down, put the tape recorder on and start to play. I do agree with that in 100%.