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Elly Roberts reviews
Dreamworks (Polydor/Universal)
- Released: March 2005
- Format: CD
- Rating: 10/10+
- Cat.no.: 2103092
Mozart was only declared a genius long after he died at the premature age of 35 years.
During his lifetime, he struggled to make ends meet and coped with adebilitating illness. He would tour endlessly trying to make a name forhimself. His widow Constanze took his work around Europe and this is when hiswork effectively became recognised.
Right now,theres a man at the peak of his productive powers and similariltieshave been drawn with the classical composer. Lets hope that this man isrecognised as such during his lifetime. The name on everybodys lips is Rufus Wainwright.
The Wainwright music dynasty is a formidable one. Father Loudon Wainwright IIIis a folk legend, as is aunt Anna McGarrigle. Sister Martha is also a rising star andthen theres Rufus.
The latter is a flamboyant homo-sexual,who has just released one of thegreatest albums of all time – Want Two.
A couple of years ago he brought out Want One to critical acclaim. Whenhe presented the complete works to his record company, they were nervous aboutthe huge volume of work, so they suggested splitting it into two separateentities – Want One and Want Two.
For the latter hes been declared the status of genius with Elton John declaringhim to be the greatest living songwriter, with some justification.
Not being able to receive the usual review copy, I went out and bought it.
My interest was kindled by reading several magazine features and reviews.
The music press are unanimous in their praise, if a tad understated.
What you get here is the second musical coming, or the Gay Messiah as hesbeing dubbed.
So adventurous and daring, it has sent shockwaves through the musicindustry. Categorising Wainwright is difficult, but most music stores slot himunder the Popsection, which denotes a secular leaning. Nothing could befurther from the truth. With both albums, you get a collection that requiresserious listening,unlike the 3 minute wonders that are being thrust downour throats by radio stations.
With its vastly differing but equally dramatic beginning – Angus Dei amammoth Eastern flavoured epic, its rapidly followed by the jaunty andinfectious single The One You Love, which is as close as youll get tosecularism. From then on its littered with emotive ballads – The PeachTree, The Art Teacher, Memphis Skyline and hauntingly beautiful Waiting For ADream.
He even throws in some country and French ballads e.g. Coeur deParisienne (sung live), which resembles something out of 19th centuryVienna. The magnificently raucous Old Whores Diet, is a glorious neuvo-danceblast featuring performance artist Antony.
This has to be heard to be believed – a truly tumultuous listening experience.Further listening examples follow below:
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Angus Dei
2. The One You Love
3. Peach Trees
4. Little Sister
5. The Art Teacher
6. Hometown Waltz
7. This Love Affair8. Gay Messiah
9. Memphis Skyline
10. Waiting For A Dream
11. Crumb By Crumb
12. Old Whores Diet
13. Coeur de Parisienne-Reprise dArletty
14. Quando Vous Mourez de Nos Amours.
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.