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DVDfever.co.uk – Ardentjohn: On The Wire CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Slow Train Records
- Released: January 2010
- Rating: 6/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
Scottish indie-folk-pop band roll out number two.
Edinburgh six-piece outfit Ardentjohn follow-up 2007s When The Time Comes with yet another set of Celtic-tinged gems.
Originally from the isle of Bute, an island in the Firth Of Clyde with extensive forestry, singer Keiron Mason and bassist Al Shields relocated to the capital city. Theyve known each other since childhood, and had once engaged in some playground fisticuffs.Then after an unexpected reunion back in 2005, the pair embarked on songwriting sessions, attracting members from as far-a-field as Crieff (in Perth and Kinross), New York and Alberta (Canada).Clearly a very talented bunch – the two gals and four blokes play a variety of instruments.
Lots of inspiration comes from Mason and Shields time on Bute, with an early reference on opener All That We Need Land of green, sea of blue / Youre here in my heart…, sung as a haunting â capella introduction before melancholic strings add a touch of longing to this gorgeous ballad, which unfolds into a nifty shuffle.Their lush instrumentation segues into lightweight-rocker Open Road with the chorus providing the principal hook with heavenly harmonies.
Theres no specific name reference to a person on Fleeting Moments, but the song is clearly revealing that time on the road is causing someone anguish, while Colours Of The Day is about loss and confusion, set to a grand musical landscape of swirling strings and strummed acoustic guitar. Follow Me has a theme of uncertainty propelled by some fine string arrangements and a steady beat and sublime guitar breaks which build into a whopping crescendo, and its powerful and touching stuff.
Eventually the laidback groove is smashed with thumping rocker One Step Beyond. Ardentjohn step out of their comfort zone and you get the feeling they should try this more often, because it mighty impressive. Skip one, and we get to Believing Man which cracks the mould again with shades of Californian infused Americana, featuring some finely honed harmonies. Of all the tracks, this is the one tagged, potential single.
Returning to the Bute reminiscing, they round off a solid album with yet another gorgeous ballad Morning Song.Ardentjohn is serious band with some very good songs. A bit more variety might be needed in future.
The verdict: Ones to watch.
Weblink:myspace.com/ardentjohn (Info and free audio streams)
The full list of tracks included are :
1. All That We Need
2. Open Road
3. Fleeting Moments
4. Colours Of The Day
5. Follow Me
6. Where All Paths Lead
7. Home
8. One Step Behind
9. Pride Of Place
10. Believing Man
11. Morning SongView the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
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.