‘Another World’ is the second album from New Zealand born singer songwriter Paul Turner who now resides in Australia. Following 2008s ‘Clear Blue’, this brings us ten tracks of acoustic folk music featuring guitar and cello. Apparently this is darker than his last album, and in some respects I found it not too far removed from some of the folksier tracks on REM’s ‘Automatic For The People’.
Paul has a soft melodic voice that perfectly suits the majority of the songs here, and I think that this could be very popular within its genre. The title track ‘Another World’ starts the album off and is an introspective track questioning life and one’s position within the world and whether there’s anything better: - “Another world for me, another way of life/ Maybe I’m naïve, maybe I’m all right to grow.”
‘Heaven and Earth’ is another good track which questions what we are, mortality and the essence of love “All that we are, thrown away.” Track three, ‘Really There’ has great lyrics which deal with love lost and the struggle to cope. The problem with this is that when Paul sings: - “How many years I’ve had to fight. How many times I’ve been on the outside.” I found that it didn’t quite work for me, primarily because Paul’s voice doesn’t reflect any anger and cold outrage at the situation. Here, unfortunately, his gentle vocals actually work against him.
‘Impossible’ is a far better track, the guitar and cello work together to provide a bleak soundscape and Paul’s voice conveys a weary acceptance: - “The world whole conspires/ If you can’t believe you can’t receive/ The elements will bring you to your knees, the whole worlds on fire.”
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‘Underskin’ is another good track, which relates to someone’s self-discovery and growth. With the title of ‘Keep Fighting’ I thought that this would be another track which Paul wouldn’t do justice, however his vocals render this uplifting and inspirational: - “Who will you trust? Who will you save?/ You’re caught in a trap; you’re caught in a maze/There’s another one, keep fighting, keep fighting on.” Defiant, in a word.
Finally, the album closes with ‘Love is Wise’ which charts the experiences, highs and lows of the ultimate emotion: - “Walkin’ through the rain. Once again feel the pain/ I’ve been burned but that’s all right/ This is love and love is wise.” This is a good finale, and with a brilliant throwaway one liner: “All I live for is myself, what a state of mental health.”
It's a fitting end to a good, solid album. Hopefully Paul will continue to shine.
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