I reckon my musical knowledge is pretty good, but I also realise that there's so much out there I've never heard of and probably never will. So despite his having been around for a while and his having released previous albums to some acclaim, it's not entirely surprising that I've never heard of Rupert Wates. But there are a number of surprising things about this album. The booklet that accompanies the CD features pictures of mucky children, a boy with a pistol tucked into his waistband, a ruined car with a US flag draped over the bonnet, and shots of Mr. Wates looking craggy and serious. Well, he is a singer songwriter, so I guess that's ok. They're often serious types, these singer songwriters.
Bunging the disc in the payer, then, I'm surprised to hear the pitch and tone of Waters' voice. From the photographs, I had expected something worn and gravelly, but instead, he has a sweet, lilting voice. It's not unpleasant or sickly, just surprising. If anything, there's a hint of 70s / 'Crusader'-era Chris de Burgh, but with an edge. This isn't intended the insult it may appear.
The music, which is sparse and immediate – for the most part, it's just him with his acoustic guitar, with occasional bass and bongos for extra depth and texture, and they never threaten to challenge the guitar and vocal for dominance – is straighforward, warm, honest, unpretentious, soft, and largely upbeat. Which makes for the biggest surprise, as the lyrical content is pretty dark and weighty. From the opener and title track, in which he sings of war, terrorism and acid rain, through standout 'Elegy for the Coming Man' where he tells of the 'carnage we will leave you… deserts ripped of life…[and] poisoned air,' Waters makes some pretty grim observations on the state of the world and passes some critical comments on humanity. As such, the contents stand as quite a contrast to the form, which is clever, particularly considering that it's well executed, the hillbilly leanings of 'Blackness of the Night' notwithstanding.
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In 'Dear Life,' Wates has produced an accessible album with a message and carries it off nicely.
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