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18 JULY 2016
MUSIC
Róisín Murphy
Take Her Up To Monto
Plenty of people have argued that
talking about music is like dancing
about architecture. Not many people
have decided to make dance music
about architecture. But that's exactly
what Róisín Murphy, the iconic Irish
singer-songwriter and longtime
leader of the electronic pop avant
garde, has achieved here. Take Her
Up To Monto might reference the
classic folk song popularised by her
father's band The Dubliners back
in the '50s, but the new record is
more interested in contemporary
London life. In Róisín's words: "It's
a lot about architecture, it's about
building and the future coming,
it's about here!" The music is
constructed on technologically-
advanced pop foundations, taut and
thoughtful synths, and controlled by
Róisín's powerful vocals.
(PIAS) SimonWinkler
Various
Alligator Records 45th
Anniversary Collection
In 1971 in Chicago, 24-year-
old blues tragic Bruce Iglauer
launched his fledgling record label,
Alligator Records, with an album
by a virtually unknown band he'd
discovered playing unbridled,
rhythmic, raucous blues in local
bars: Hound Dog Taylor &The
Houserockers. Forty-five years
later, Alligator Records – now the
largest independent blues label in
the world with a catalogue of more
than 300 albums – is releasing
a 2CD anniversary collection
with tracks from newer acts and
legendary artists such as Albert
Collins, Mavis Staples, Johnny
Winter, Son Seals, and Charlie
Musselwhite. An essential release
for blues fans.
(Only Blues) Billy Pinnell
Liz Stringer
All The Bridges
Liz Stringer is like a well-kept
secret. Those in the know are
aware that she’s a world-class
singer and songwriter; for the
rest of the world she remains
a mystery. That might change
with her fifth album, which she
recorded in Portland, Oregon with
producer Adam Selzer. Then again,
Stringer seems content making
quality records without the fame,
singing: “Ain’t nothing wrong
with a half-filled cup.” With her
smoky, soulful vocal, you can rely
on Stringer to supply songs that
hit you right in the heart. Indeed, a
standout track here is called Keep
Keeping On. “I’m in love with
you,” Stringer sings, “and there’s
nothing that I can do.”
(Vitamin) Jeff Jenkins
Shawn Colvin &
Steve Earle
Colvin & Earle
When two Grammy Award-
winning singer-songwriters like
Steve Earle and Shawn Colvin
get together it can only be great.
After completing the sold-out
tour 'Songs & Stories, Together
Onstage' in 2014, Earle proposed
an album recording – and here it
is, bringing the magic of their live
collaboration to record. Theirs is a
special connection of old friends
sharing vocals on a handful of
covers (Tobacco Road, Ruby
Tuesday) and six new co-written
originals, on which the sweet of
Colvin and gruff of Earle work too
well. Recorded by the one and
only Buddy Miller in his Nashville
home studio, this is country blues
and folk of effortless sincerity.
(Universal) Denise Hylands
Jeff Beck
Loud Hailer
Acclaimed guitarist Jeff Beck
steps out of his comfort zone
with the release of his first new
album in six years. Frustrated at
not being able to verbalise his
opinions on the world issues he
felt strongly about, Beck recruited
singer Rosie Bones (who lends her
voice to nine of the 11 songs) and
guitarist Carmen Vandenburg of
the London band Bones to write
these tracks and their lyrics with
him. Titles such as the intense The
Revolution Will Be Televised, and
the reflective ballad Scared For
The Children, needed to be sung.
The album is rounded out by two
signature Beck instrumentals.
(Warner) Billy Pinnell
Tracy McNeil & The
GoodLife
Thieves
Tracy McNeil doesn’t make
three-minute pop songs; as she
sings on her fourth album, “We
took the long way.” Six of the 10
tracks clock in at more than five
minutes, with producer Shane
O’Mara allowing them to stretch
out, showcasing the dexterous
guitar-playing of Dan Parsons and
McNeil’s husband, Raised By
Eagles’ Luke Sinclair. But these
songs are also filled with hooks
and harmonies that will keep you
warm on a winter’s night. “The
heat of the summer is never made
to stay,” McNeil sings in Ashes,
a tribute to her father and the
centrepiece of a beautiful record
filled with moving meditations on
family and friends.
(SlipRail Records/MGM)
Jeff Jenkins
Peter Garrett
A Version Of Now
It’s a hell of a story: Lead singer of one of our
biggest bands quits to pursue a political career. He
gets embroiled in one of the nastiest leadership
battles in history and his opponents constantly
throw old lyrics at him, accusing him of hypocrisy
and selling out, all as he claims to not miss his
musical life. That’s the only lie Peter Garrett told, because there’s no
hiding the joy in his voice on this comeback record, his first solo album.
“I’m back,” he declares in opening track, Tall Trees . “I’m coming ’round
for a second look.” With no regrets: “I saw the best of men and I saw the
worst,” he reports in I’d Do It Again. “I got my hands dirty, I had a go.” You’d
forgive Garrett if he were battered and bruised and bitter. But there are no
recriminations. He remains a beautiful dreamer in a minefield. “The sound
of the times is the sigh of indifference,” he laments. “Dreams are broken,
mended and they scatter.” Older, wiser, but still a believer – and still
capable of delivering Aussie anthems with ripper, real words ringing in your
ears. “It still matters to me,” Garrett sings. “I hope it matters to you.”
(Sony) Jeff Jenkins