'Dizzy Spells' is the latest release from Ivor Game. This is amazingly, his tenth album. Quietly since 1996 Ivor has gone about his business of recording and releasing CDs that have achieved some acclaim within the folk music circuit, and yet...I have to say, I'd never heard of him until now, which has to count as a real shame, as with 'Dizzy Spells', he has released an understated masterpiece.
'Dizzy Spells' is Ivor's first release in two years, and follows on from 2012s 'Freckles'. There are nine tracks on the album, all following the acoustic folk genre and each with their own simplistic beauty, and none that outstay their welcome – upon listening to this album I did wonder briefly whether Ivor had ever been a member of The Ramones, as the total running time for the nine tracks is just over fourteen minutes!
That said, there is no filler on this album, each track stands on its own with thought provoking lyrics and some excellent guitar playing. Opening with the fast folk strum along of 'Two Weeks', the album gets of to a flying start: - “What am I gonna do for two weeks? (x 2) In this life I have it's hard to breathe...
Maybe I can disappear, after all.” This is a track that is really clear and sounds great, on top of that, at one minute and nineteen seconds, it does the business without needing to go on and on.
After this comes 'I'll Wait For You', a slightly slower track, but with the vocals very up front, a charming love song, this is a track that will have you singing along after a couple of plays: - “So long, so far, you've been a star. You know I'll always be true. I'll wait for you/ No-one knows me, makes things easy. You know those quiet moments so few. I'll wait for you."
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My favourite track on the album is the jaunty, upbeat 'I See a Bottle Of Wine',the sort of track that will always put a smile on your face with its perfect observation: - “I see a bottle of wine and, I see a nice little invitation/ I see it must be a time for, to be alone or have conversation/ The world will have to stop turning, until I finish my glass/ That's what I think, that's how I drink, to making this bottle last."
I have to say this is a wonderful album with a real understated charm, as uniquely English as The Kinks, and with a lot to say. It is available from Ivor Game online for the amazing price of only £4.99, and is 100% worth it. Go ahead, pick this up. It'll be the best folky fourteen minutes you could possibly have!
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