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Elly Roberts reviews
4AD
- Released: September 2006
- Rating: 8/10
Plaudits are already flying in for the Californian singer-songwriters fifth album.
Rated as one of the best Americana singer-songwriters in the States right now,hes yet to make a serious commercial breakthrough in the UK. Surely, itsonly a matter of time before he breaks here.
Post War is an ominous title (weve already hadNeil Young’s Living With Warand now Iron Maidens A Matter Of Life And Death), this one might justdo the Magic Trick.
Album number four, Transistor Radio was critically acclaimed, so itappears, is this. Its a very polished effort, but a long way off being amasterpiece in theRufus Wainwright ‘Want Two’mould.
Hollowed-voice Ward likes to work on his own in Portland Oregon. This timehes brought on – board Rachel Blumberg, Jim James, Neko Case, Jordan Hudson,effectively his touring band for the past 18 months, making this his firstband record. A fascinating combination of straddling folk, sophisticatedpicks and dreamy blues (with some deft use of the long forgotten tremolo onthe title track, Eyes On The Prize and Neptunes Net), thealbum is really a celebration of life and eternal hope, so its not toodownbeat.
Working with Mike Mogis for the first time, its also got a Bright Eyes(Connor Oberst) feel here and there, especially on Chinese Translationand just a smidging of Micah P.Hinson, though more accessible. Rousersinclude a pseudo-live Magic Trick (reminiscent of Bruce SpringsteensPete Seeger tribute-covers), and Neptunes Net.
Rasping Right In The Head could be Paul Simon of the 21st century,with its wiry-twisted guitar solos.
A stripped down and bar-like piano rambler, Rollercoaster is asearthy as the CD gets, with Amanda Lawrences string-work especially onTodays Undertaking, making it a collection highlight.
Weblink:M.Ward Music.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Poison Cup
2. To Go Home
3. Right In The Head
4. Post War
5. Requiem
6. Chinese Translation
7. Eyes On The Prize
8. Magic Trick
9. Neptunes Net
10. Rollercoaster
11. Todays Undertaking
12. Afterword / Rag
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.