The Road To The Sea is the latest album by Louis Philippe & The Night Mail his current band of musical adventurers who include Robert Rotifer, Ian Button Andy Lewis, Danny Manners. The band first came together to record an album with John Howard and this album isn't quite as pretty as John's recent For Those That Wander By album.
The album opens with the slow slightly ponderous The Road Somewhere he's not quite sure of the destination or even if the journey will be worth the effort, but as the sumptuous strings and laid-back percussion makes clear this will be a relaxing journey.
Pictures Of Anna opens sounding like a Paris 1919 outtake, with some very cool orchestration making clear these Pictures are not at all mucky, even if she gets caught playing away, she floats away from Louis, all he's left with are the incriminating Pictures Of Anna to gaze at, he wallows in his misery.
Where Did We Go Wrong well possibly in using that very late 70's synth that sounds like it comes from a bad porno film, or was it in the bondage sessions with paper string, an almost early 70's tv soundtrack sound seems to imply that everything is going to hell, he has not too much idea what he did, other than watching too many bad 70s soap operas.
La Maison Sans Toit is more of a slow Brel style chanson for the broken hearted and mistreated who drown their sorrows in dream like piano ballads.
Those Days Of Summer when proggy keyboard led songs like this meant you were still in love, this switches through the memories of the good times, before it all changed.
All At Sea has Louis drowning in his sorrow and all the memories of what once was, can he ever get over this and get back to commentating on the footie.
Le Baiser feels like you're wandering the post-midnight streets of Paris in the late 60s Gauloise in hand looking for love, that of course is probably not what the french lyrics are about, but this has the feeling of a gorgeous love song.
Wine And Roses is full of regret and doom-laden sting interventions that weave between the more upbeat sensuality that hope to ensure that these are very much the days of Wine And Roses despite all the contra indications that indeed suicide might be painless.
Watching Your Sun Go Down and your fun come to an end among the strings and piano parts hoping your paths never cross again.
A Friend is waiting in the ambient gloom as Louis stumbles down the street, he's a touch tipsy, in need of some Peter Sarstedt or similar to help revivify him.
Song For Paddy (Wings Of Desire) is slow piano ruminations for Paddy and how his life was bound up in those Wings Of Desire and the pain it brought him.
To The Sea time to head towards the water once more, soft brushed percussion and piano with very gentle harmony backing vocals, this is for one of those magical days when Le Manche is super calm so you can sleep as you drift along.
Always has the early 70's soundtrack sound again, almost instrumental cries of Always come gently through this most relaxed tune.
The album closes with Ville Lumiere the gentlest of chansons for the lost and lonely, the backing vocals are choral in inspiration, the lush orchestration engender feelings of warmth.
Find out more at https://shop.tapeterecords.com/louis-philippe-the-night-mail-the-road-to-the-sea-4310 https://louisphilippe1.bandcamp.com/album/the-road-to-the-sea
