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Elly Roberts reviews
Relentless Records
- Released: June 2008
- Rating: 6/10
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Poster Boy of Folk continues controversy.
For some time now, since the arrival of his 2004s Kitty Jay and 2005Mercury nominated debut, Devonian Seth Bernard Lakeman has set tongues wagging.
Folk purists are in a bit of a spin as to where his music actually lies. Therewere the Hip Hop nods on Gold selling follow-up Freedom Fields to compound things.To confirm hed arrived he was awarded Singer Of The Year and Best Album at2007’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Poor Mans Heaven is far more expansive and adventurous still. As theviolinist of the moment, 31 year old Lakeman has bigger ideas stadium engulfingpower, with a twist.
His intent is there from the start The Hurlers. Its thumping drum introis the perfect stab start for a radio DJs opening shot. Soon the frantic violinkicks – in boosted by a whopping call.. “Come on boys you know where youstand ” on this Irish-tinged monster. The hooks are unrelenting. Therockier template continues Feather In The Storm, like much of his work,it includes story-telling traditions of folk.
The most noticeable inclusion here is the Jimmy Page styled slide guitar andZep-like rock riff, which settles down into a neat Bluesy sway. Things go moretrad for the next two. He introduces splashes of mandolin, accordion and harmonica(Crimson Dawn) though Blood Red Sky has a slightly rockier edgeon ominous Blood Red Sky.
The sad tale of tragic event surrounding the ill-fatedPenlee lifeboat are brought into sharp focus on Solomon Brown, intendedto keep the story very much alive through his deeply emotive lyrics. Again Led Zep (3) influences surface for melodic ballad Ill Haunt You, whereas Irish jig fuelled Race To Be King is a sprightly andbouncy full-on example of Lakemans mastery of folky playing.
For me the weak spots are the title track and laborious Green And Gold,though simple ballad Sound Of A Drum, a reworking of traditional songThe Unquiet Grave, restores the balance, just.
File under: Keeps moving.
Weblink:sethlakeman.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
1. The Hurlers
2. Feather In A Storm
3. Crimson Dawn
4. Blood Red Sky
5. Solomon Brown
6. Cherry Red Girl
7. Ill Haunt You
8. Race To Be King
9. Poor Mans Heaven
10. Greed And Gold
11. Sound Of A Drum
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.