Elly Roberts reviews
Ray Lamontagne: Till The Sun Turns Black
Distributed by
14th Floor
- Released: January 2007
- Rating: 10/10+
Out with the old: in with the new.
That’s what traditionally heralds the New Year. So, fans believing that
Raycharles Lamontagne would release Trouble ‘Mark 2’ are in for a big
surprise – a pleasant one at that.
Rustic Ray has quickly forgotten his debut album of 2005, which sold half a
million copies principally via word of mouth. Now he’s gone for something
totally different – and it’s stunning. Whereas Trouble was a relatively
stripped sound, gushing guitar and quicksilver lyrics, the grisly one has now
embraced a much fuller musical landscape, with more attention being focused
on expansive music.
At just about every level the music has greater texture and colour. There’s
also more of a band feel about the entire project. Ray says of his album,
"I just wanted to have something different than a collection of songs."
He added, "There’s nothing wrong with that, I just didn’t want to do it
again."
Moving on was the natural progression for this remarkable singer-songwriter
from New Hampshire, a former shoe factory worker.
What remains, is his cavernous vocals, which at almost every emotional point
is more disciplined and rounded, a tad less aching and more hushed.
Nevertheless, he’s adapted well to the new style of music. We’re now given
more strings and echoing guitars, with the addition of brass and flutes et al.
Out go the regular steady shuffling songs like, Trouble, Shelter, Hold You
My Arms and Neil Youngesque Narrow Escape, though Empty and
Barfly have shades.
Final track on Trouble, All The Wild Horses, seemed to indicate his
future direction with its magnificent swaying string interludes.
From the off there’s haunting strings supporting his gentle strumming and
plodding piano on Be Here Now.
Most noticeably, the transformation begins with Three More Days a
shuffle that expands with brass and keys, bursting to life at around the one
minute mark, rising to a steady crescendo with a full brass burst to the
closing. Again, sweeping strings introduce Can I Stay with Ray’s
husk-bound singing a major emotional highlight – a song so delicate it could
snap at any time.
You Can Bring Me Flowers, is a cool bass-driven jaunt with bonus jazzy
brass layers, as Ray glides over the shuffling rhythm section. Mmhhh.
Embracing a colliery brass band style, he thrusts Gone Away From Me
with lashings of ukulele, mellophone and euphonium. Playing acoustic and
Spanish guitar, he gets all close and intimate on the spell-binding ballad
Lesson Learned – the CDs simplest song – but equally effective.
For almost two minutes, he’s dropped-in a glorious instrumental, showing his
prowess again on Spanish guitar, with enough echo to make you melt away. Then
comes the title track: gushing strings, acoustic strums, husk-ridden singing,
with a sort of crescendo just before the 3 minute mark, tailing-off to a
steady melodic close – gasp!
As if that wasn’t enough to impress, he waves goodbye to 2005 (and 2006) in
style – plodding Within You brings a full hit of instruments at
various stage, and, yes, that god given voice, once more.
First masterpiece of 2007.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.