Adjectives such as ‘redemptive’, ‘joyful’, ‘huge’ and ‘soulful’ have been routinely trotted out where Maine-based singer/ songwriter RAY LAMONTAGNE’S album “Trouble” is concerned, but for once the hyperbole appears justified as said album’s title tune fair makes for a belting single which should be barrelling out of radios all over as the summer draws to a close.
So what happens? Well, for starters Ray gives it his best Dylan-by-way-of-Ryan in the vocal department, Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Kings Of Leon) produces with organic clarity and the strings seep into all the corners while stopping just short of full-on Spector. Which, given the surroundings, is just about the perfect place to press down on the stopwatch. And yes, the likes of ‘redemptive’ and ‘joyful’ do spring to mind in response.
|
Live B-side “Burn”, meanwhile, finds Ray re-visiting his acoustic, coffee house roots with a downhome and imploring, close-miked performance and his audience staring down the great man’s well of personal misery with him. It’s the stripped-down flip of the album but every bit as penetrating and emotional and an intimate reminder of why we are all getting behind this big, bearded man all the way. Let’s hope he returns to these shores smartly.
|
