The first time I heard Denison Witmer was something I’ll likely never forget. He was on a mix tape made for me with great care by a girl that I was dating at the time. She lived in Los Angeles and I lived in San Diego, and on the way back south, somewhere between Pedro the Lion and San Clemente, it hit me. The song was called “Los Angeles,” and it’s stripped down, brutal sincerity was like a punch in the gut. Somehow, some way, the song reached something deep down, beneath the damage, in a way that I’ve rarely experienced before or since. It grabbed on to my base emotions and wouldn’t let go, simultaneously filling me with a sorrow and a joy so genuine that I felt at once naked and ashamed, liberated and exalted. Although the song itself lasted maybe a minute and a half, I learned more about myself in those ninety seconds than I had previously allowed myself to learn in a lifetime; about honesty, about perception, about hope and loss, about how to hang on to what’s important and never let go. To paraphrase a lyric from the song, “I still feel the moment when I came alive.”

Dension Witmer is a singer-songwriter of major importance, of this there is no doubt. While surely he must tire of the constant (accurate) comparisons to ‘70s folk giants such as James Taylor, whom (of all the frequently cited influences) he resembles most closely in timbre and delivery, so too must he find validation in the fact that such icons of the past are still very relevant and influential. While combining the minimalist poignancy of Taylor with the dark elegance of Nick Drake, and the simple, somber honesty of John Denver, it’s not a stretch to declare that Witmer has all the substance - and ability - to craft songs that hold the visceral impact to turn a whole new generation onto the genre, while simultaneously enjoying a career longevity rarely known by current independent artists.

To that end, The Militia Group has recently joined the Witmer cause, beginning with the release of the stellar Are You a Dreamer?, in 2005, and continuing with the re-issue of Denison’s first release, Safe Away, bundled with the Are You a Sleeper? EP.

Safe Away, first recorded when Witmer was just nineteen and subsequently self-released, contains all the gems that started Denison’s self-described “accidental career,” including fan favorites such “Steven,” “Closer To The Sun,” and the aforementioned “Los Angeles.” The Are You a Dreamer? EP continues to showcase Witmer’s talents even further, containing three acoustic versions of songs from last year’s full length, three new songs, and three bonus live tracks. In an age where pomp and pretension dominate the musical landscape, Witmer’s genuine and unassuming approach clearly put him head and shoulders above the masses, and it’s only a matter of time until this artist begins to enjoy the affirmation of a larger audience and, perhaps, join the timeless ranks of those that preceded him. - James Reader (2006, The Daily Copper)