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Edwyn Collins’ best known solo work is 1994’s worldwide hit With A Girl Like You.
Previously, he was principle songwriter with Orange Juice. Now he returns with
his sixth solo album, but it hasn’t been without considerable anguish.
It began in 2004/2005 until he was struck by a stroke, with lengthy neurological
rehabilitation that followed. Recorded at his own West Heath studio in North
East London with a small band of musicians, Home Again is being regarded in
the music circles as one of his finest. Naturally, we’ll never know whether his
health shock was partly responsible for this relatively low key collection which
took three years to surface.
Much of it is reflective stuff, with a folkie touch here and there which will
probably appeal to his hardcore fanbase. After that, it’s anyone’s guess.
Despite his health issues, his deep honeyed vocals remain intact, as they’re
a principal feature still.
Musically, it doesn’t appear to have an obvious lead-in ‘universal’ single like
With A Girl Like You, though One Track Mind may be chosen but will
inevitably fail to reach the top 40. It’s the only ‘poppy’ song here with it’s
steady beat.
Then I Cried is of a similar ilk, but again not quite strong enough,
but the Motown beat is useful. My choice would be gorgeous floater You’ll
Never Know My Love, which is pretty darned tasty.
One Is A Lonely Number has a neat beat and mellow feel, full of heavenly
melodies a la Orange Juice. Its key figure is the sublime various instrumentation
that drift along, along with Collins’s unmistakeable deep vocals.
There are some very effective ballads such as poigniant acoustic Home Again,
that has parallels with Richard Hawley’s songbook. Deeply atmospheric
Leviathan is a mesmerising track, simply because of his vocal control,
whereas In Your Heart is a real beauty and his most stripped back sound
here.
Striking a blistering pace, Superstar Talking Blues is an all out
Western romp – harmonica, wailing Blues guitar and a niffty sticks outing.
Weak spots are the tedious Written In Stone and A Heavy Sigh.
Despite these trivial criticisms, it may well be a slow burner.
1. One Is A Lonely Number
2. Home Again
3. You’ll Never Know (My Love)
4. 7th Son
5. Leviathan
6. It’s In Your Heart
7. Superstar Talking Blues
8. Liberteenage Rag
9. A Heavy Sigh
10. Written In Stone
11. One Track Mind
12. Then I Cried
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.