I have to say I was quite looking forward to hearing this, not least because it describes itself as “lean, leathery songs with sharp clothes, bad teeth and a fag behind the ear”.
We get underway with Bogeyman, an uptempo number seemingly describing some poor hapless chap who perhaps has a better opinion of himself than everyone else? “He danced like a toreador, only not in a good way...He wears a cheap leather jacket and aftershave from Milan”.
Either way I quite like him but the track itself seems a little rushed. God Withdrew His Hand Too Soon is a good title and highlights the imperfections of life with a lovely manner. Oh, But I Would introduces Karen Cleave as vocalist, she also plays accordion. The track never fully convinces but I am not sure why, it could be a lack of confidence? She’s Reading Pevsner I guess is the knowing, literate song and no I don’t know who Pevsner is but they are probably a macro economist hailing from Latvia. Guilty As Charged is Roy Orbison with a large O. He Can’t Help Being The Dog He Is is a humorous and breezy song about a dog although it could just as easily be a man.
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For me it’s actually the final three songs that work best of all and most harmoniously. What Would Nuala Do? has a tinge of melancholia to it and some nice guitar figures. Under This Cloud is once again nicely underpinned by the guitar and hums along on its way to Carlisle. Salut Clochard should have, could have been the album opener. The "salut clochard" refrain is wistful and memorable.
Overall the songwriting on this album is of a high standard, particularly from a lyrical perspective. It would be interesting to hear them in the hands of more powerful vocalists with even, dare I say it, more bombastic backing. At times I feel the production (or is it the playing?) is missing something. Some life or might it just be un peu je ne sais quai?
Big Red Sky Recordings online
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