New album from STEVE ROBERTS who has been perfecting his skills for quite some considerable time now.
That being the case however, I guess you'd be forgiven for wondering whether, over time, a certain amount of jaded
cynicism might creep into the proceedings? Forgiven maybe, but forget it,you'd be way off the mark as this album contains a sprightly freshness that suggests a certain joie de vivre is still alive and kicking in Steve's approach to making music.
It could be argued that previous album, 'It Just Is' was the zenith of his career so far, having been nominated for the Mercury Music prize, and this new album certainly lacks some of the polish of that earlier effort but, in no way does it suffer by comparison, quite the opposite. It is ten songs possessed of a naturalness, a minimalist approach, live and lively, and dripping with the evident enjoyment of those taking part.
Never is this more evident than on 'Little Bird' with it's bouncing bass line, clapping rhythm and sprinkled banjo (courtesy of Robbie Taylor) that picks the whole thing up and swings it around the room with summery joy. 'Circus' manages to create - from a very limited palette - a sound that perfectly conjures up the 'alien' bustle and the blurry colours, smells and sounds of the big top and, with lines like "I'm dizzy with fright at this circus", suggests the awed excitement of a child. However, look a bit deeper and the song contains a far more 'adult' message, the fear and sickness that's implied relating to the treatment of all taking part (both human and animal performers?), the final line being, "And no-one's got rights at this circus". Very cleverly done.
'Heartbreak', despite its title, is another song that bounces along to a driving, clapping rhythm, almost reggae-ish, it is again quite minimal, Steve the sole contributor, yet has no problem sounding fully formed. Available as a single it is the album's most immediate song and has a melody that'll run around your head for days after hearing it.
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'Stupid, Stupid, Stupid' is very beatlesque, particularly vocally and contains a gentle lilting rhythm, some nice harmonica and simple, plucked banjo notes. Probably the most maudlin song on offer is 'Home', but it has a lovely chorus that is wonderfully lifted back into it's verses by some exquisite violin (Mr. Taylor again).
Weaker tracks would have to be 'The Magic's In The Trick' that has a slightly uneven feel despite its Harry Potter popular reference to witches and wizards, and 'To Be Like You' with it's waltz like shuffle, that is just a bit too sugary sweet. Indeed both could have been written for or about his children, nothing wrong in that per se (Woody Guthrie wrote some great children's songs), but in the context of the album their lightness sits a little uncomfortably.
The album finishes with the best and most complete track on offer, "The Ballad Of Alaska", which is a great song, beautifully played and carrying a message that suggests we should accept who and what we are, not regretting what we've 'missed' or envying what others have, a message that you feel is at the heart of Steve Roberts' musical philosophy, perfectly summed up in the album's title.
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