‘I Have To Go’ is the debut full-length release from Hull based singer-songwriter, Steve Reed. His debut release, ‘And So On And So Forth’ was a promising, yet ultimately one-dimensional record that nevertheless showcased the potential of his considered approach to guitar pop. This new release sees significant steps being taken to rectify this as a much wider mix of musical styles and ideas are blended together to create a richer, more varied record.
By enlisting the help of a group of contrasting musicians, he neatly sidesteps the well-trodden path of the regular singer-songwriter. It’s an ambitious move that is generally handled with sensitivity, as the danger is that some of his individual style may be lost in the process. Possibly his finest moment is on ‘Then Today’ as the vocal by Emma Rugg and piano from Steve Bell really add emotional weight, while the strutting guitar solo from James (Baz) Barraclough of The Dirty Dreamers offers an unexpected dimension to ‘Three Small Words’. Where this isn’t so effective generally serves to draw out his strengths. The use of a backing band on the opening track ‘Wait’ sacrifices some clarity for volume and highlights that he works most effectively outside of a band dynamic, although ‘Before I’d Said A Word’ demonstrates that he can arrange a band in a way that compliments his solo sound. With an enviable ear for a discernable melody, he is undoubtedly at his finest when he strips a song down and lets its simplicity speak for itself. By primarily using only his vocal, guitar and a string section, ‘Especially When The Face Looks Like Yours’ and ‘Idle Promise’ both demonstrate a McCartney-esque appreciation of how to construct and deliver a simple, yet paradoxically complex song.
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‘I Have To Go’ sees Steve Reed reinforce his reputation as a fine lyric writer, but it does open him up to some criticism of treading water on occasion. Although the lyrics are always considered and measured, thematically there is little variation and he picks up where the mini-album left off. Although it may be tempting to place him in the same category as major league singer-songwriters such as Damien Rice and James Blunt, he undoubtedly offers more, much more in the way of integrity and sincerity. The lyrics have an honest and direct quality that convinces that he means every last word of them. The musical growth and inventiveness that he demonstrates suggests that a widening of the lyrical subject matter or maybe even viewing things from a different perspective will inevitably follow.
‘I Have To Go’ is the work of a rapidly maturing talent. By utilising the different skills and attributes of various other musicians as well as his own attributes, he adds a fresh perspective to what could have been just another take on a well-trodden musical style. Minor quibbles aside, when he manages to combine these different elements, Steve Reed is more than capable of taking on, and bettering, much more established acts with vastly superior budgets and PR machines.
www.stevereed.co.uk
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