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DVDfever.co.uk – Moriarty: Gee Whiz But This Is A lonesome Town CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Naïve Records
- Released: Out now
- Rating: 8/10
Now this is an odd one for you. Modern bohemian gypsies?
Critically acclaimed French-American folk roots five-pack Moriarty have gradually been building a cult following in the UK supporting Son Of Dave, Jane Birkin and The Do.
The French based multi-national outfit, strangely consisting of multiple Moriartys – Rosemary Moriarty singer and assorted instruments, Arthur Moriarty guitars and piano, Zim Moriarty double bass and acoustic guitar, Thomas Moriarty harmonicas, kazoo and Jews harp their melodic take on folk, blues, and snippets of cabaret are fronted by the dulcet tones of songbird Rosemary.
Gee Whiz opens with a delightful tale of yearning set to simple acoustic picks, harmonica, shuffling brushes and upright bass.Things take a decidedly quirky about -turn on the stripped back Lovelinesse, a whacky tongue-in-cheek wisp based on a 1930s romp.
Its more straightforward fare on the plucky blues-tinged Private Lily, which tells of a bored 19 year old whos encouraged to sign-up for the army, whereas Motel digs deep into the front-porch blues template of sizzling harmonica shrieks and acoustic stomping.
Another unique genre, country jazz, unfolds on the divine tale of love, security and yearning Cottonflower. The pace is laidback with a chunky bass, and dust-bowl harmonica driving background allowing Rosemary to do some fab vocal gymnastics.Bluegrass-tinged White Mans Ballad is hoedown territory propelled by edgy fiddle and long-forgotten Jews harp, while Tagone Ura gives a nod the jazz greats with Rosemary adapting her tones to the gorgeous stripped back ballad.
Ending a beguiling assortment, they revert back to the playfulness of the 1930s influenced jazz scene Jaywalker (Song For Beryl) in two protracted sections. Why? Ill never know, but thats Moriarty for you!
The verdict Bring on some more.
Weblink:myspace.com/moriartylands (includes audio samples from album)
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Jimmy
2. Lovelinesse
3. Private Lily
4. Motel
5. Animals Cant Laugh
6. (
)
7. Cottonflower
8. Whitemans Ballad
9. Tagone-Ura
10. Friday
11. Oshkosh Bend
12. Jaywalker (Song For Beryl)
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.