“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is an oft-repeated maxim.  But Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Logan Richard shows us that, sometimes, it’s possible to improve upon perfection.  As his reworkings of a string of favourite songs demonstrate on Character Traits – Deluxe Version.

A CELEBRATION OF SUCCESS

Just about one year ago, we had the impudence to suggest that Character Traits – the 2025 album from Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Logan Richard was: “something very special.”  As it turns out, that’s a view that’s been shared by a tidy number of people – because Character Traits has proven to be something of a breakthrough in the career of Logan Richard.

Let’s look at the facts, shall we?  For a start, album highlight the Grass is Blue (Everywhere I Go) reached the heady heights of the CBC Top Twenty when it was released as a single last summer.  Then, when annual awards time came a-rolling round, Character Traits received nominations in three categories of the East Coast Music Awards.  Indeed, such has been the level of attention garnered by Character Traits, that Logan has been incited to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the album’s release by revisiting it and adding a string of finishing touches.  And the nature of those ‘finishing touches?’ – A pair of new(ish) songs and a string of imaginative reworkings of several Character Traits faves.

A DREAM COME TRUE

At the centre of Character Traits – Deluxe Version lies a re-recording of the original album’s opening track, Up From Here.  This time around, Logan performs the song as a duet with esteemed Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Rose Cousins, and the capture of Rose has been quite a coup.

Logan explains: “This is a dream come true.  A duet with one of my favourite singers of all time.  It is extra special, too, because this song was inspired by my late cousin Koady Chaisson, who was very close with Rose.  We shared a few moments of the past year singing this song, and chatting about Koady, so it felt very natural to have [Rose] sing on this version.  The day I got the mix back and heard her singing/playing for the first time was the anniversary of Koady’s passing.  It was an incredibly emotional listening experience, but it felt so serendipitous.  I am so grateful to Rose for helping to bring a whole new life into this song and with it, a new meaning.”

It’s a stunning reinterpretation, that’s for sure.  Rose’s gentle harmonies add an extra warmth to Logan’s already intimate vocals and bring extra poignancy to a song with a deep personal history.

NEW SONGS AND POLISHED GEMS

As far as the ‘new’ songs are concerned, we’ve already had the pleasure of the Deluxe album’s lead single, Yet to Let Me Down.  It’s a song that Logan wrote with help from former Canadian Young Folk Performer of the Year, Isabella Samson, during a visit by Isabella to Logan’s PEI base.  Back in April we tagged Yet to Let Me Down as: “…one of Logan’s very best.”  That’s a judgement that time has served to reinforce.  And, sticking with the new material for a moment, the version of Bill Withers’ Kissing My Love (also a recent single release) is lush, bluesy and super-funky.  Afie Jurvanen plays a hypnotic, resonant bassline, Chris Kirby’s keyboard licks are as sleazy as slime and Logan’s guitar solo hits the heights.  And that’s all before we even start to talk about his smooth, silky, bluesy vocal.

The Paul Simon vocal tones that burst from the speakers with the original recording of the excellent Feels This Way have been pared back slightly for the Deluxe version re-recording, but they’re still detectable.  Once again, funk is to the fore and, once again, Logan (guitar) and Afie (bass) forge a formidable force together.

A few shafts of musical light managed to penetrate the lyrical anguish of Junk Drawer on the original version of the album.  For the unplugged version that Logan has recorded for this year’s model, the mood is stark, personal and confessional, as Logan’s acoustic guitar provides the sole distraction to his bittersweet lyrics.

TINKERING WITH EXCELLENCE…

If You’re Gonna Change Your Mind is, perhaps, the most soulful track on Character Traits.  The reworked version included this time around is a cleaner take, built on Afie’s solid bass foundation and co-producer Joshua Van Tassel’s sharp drumbeat.  Peppered with flurries of crisp, clear guitar, there’s no loss of soulful presence, though.

And, to complete the new, improved, line-up, The Grass is Blue (Chill Version) is, as the title’s qualification suggests, folkier, smoother and more laid-back than the chart-puncturing original interpretation of this excellent song.  It’s mellower, too and it’s hugely satisfying.

All this, and the original album’s nine tracks too!  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is an oft-repeated maxim.  Sometimes, though, tinkering with something that’s already excellent can achieve a whole new level of perfection.  Logan Richard has proved it, with his reappraisal of Character Traits.

Watch the official video to The Grass is Blue (Everywhere I Go) – the chart-piercing single from Character Traits – below:

Logan Richard: Website

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