Years ago, I remember reading an interview with Jah Wobble where he asserted (perhaps not unreasonably) that “religious fanatics, alcoholics and general nutters” made the best music. We could, of course, argue the toss about that all day long, but I would agree with the sage-like Mr. Wobble in the broadest sense. Often, the finest music really does come from the least likely corners.
Take one CAM PENNER. Don't know him? Neither did I, until I heard about his new (third) album 'Trouble & Mercy' album and that Penner was from a remote Mennonite community from the vast Southern Manitoba landscape. His family apparently ran an illegal roadhouse and his 'bootlegger' grandfather ran his moonshine products around the obscure rural communities in the region. Hell, as a resume, I'd take it over the predictable, media-blitzing likes of Pete Doherty or Johnny Borrell any day of the week, thanks very much.
OK, so a fascinating background doesn't necessarily mean the resulting album will be a killer, but in Cam Penner's case, I'm glad to say we won't be leaving empty-handed. 'Trouble & Mercy' is a highly emotive, travellin' troubadour's master class deserving of being bracketed with the illustrious likes of Steve Earle and Otis Gibbs.
Like both Earle and Gibbs, Penner's songs shine the spotlight into the dustiest corners of society. The characters inhabiting songs like the title track and 'No Need to Pray' have little choice but to accept the severest of bumps in the road, while the would-be outlaw in the dirty blues of 'Roam' (“I've got 12 dollars left, I've got a hole in my pocket/ there's a bank around the corner, don't think I haven't thought it”) is even more desperate and marginalised.
It's to Penner and his producer/ musical director Jon Wood's credit that they supply vivid and emotive sonic backdrops where Wood's sympathetic, vibrato guitar parts, drifting pedal steel and occasional textures like fiddle or sighing, Neil Young-style harmonica join up the dots without ever diluting the impact of these tales of hard times for honest men and women trying to make out against the steepest of odds.
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Even when he's being rather more personal, it's impossible not to be struck by Penner's inherent humanity. 'She's In my Head' – aside from being arguably my favourite track – is quite possibly the eternal optimist's ultimate hymn, written from a place where the “only things between us are earth, water and time.” Quite clearly numerous time zones, too, judging by the rest of the lyric. 'Peace of Mind', meanwhile, is a gentle, but resonant tribute to the unsung heroes out there (“some answers will remain unknown, sometime you're better off if you don't know”), while the closing 'You Are Gold' is a gorgeous, straight-down-the-line love song and the most affecting of ways to leave us hanging.
Cam Penner, then, is quite a find. From what I can gather, 'Trouble & Mercy' is rather sparser and more acoustic than his usual fare, but as heart-melting introductions to unknown artists go, it rarely gets more resonant and graceful than this. If this is what he's capable of in future, you're safe putting your trust in this guy.
Cam Penner official site.
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