Spotlight 2016: Ray Wilson - Song For A Friend & Makes Me Think Of Home

                                                                       

A burst of creativity has resulted in singer/songwriter Ray Wilson releasing two albums in 2016 - I've treated it as one project - call it a double album if you will. Whatever you call it, it's a hell of an achievement to make two albums where the consistency of the songwriting remains so high.

Ray has managed it with the release of Song For A Friend & Makes Me Think Of Home.

You may know as the vocalist of the band Stiltskin, who had a big worldwide hit with the song Inside - which was used in a Levi's commercial back in 1994.

Ray then went on to become the lead vocalist for Genesis, following the departure of Phil Collins in 1997. He recorded one album with Genesis, Calling All Stations. I must say I LOVE this album and think both Rutherford & Banks missed a trick then by not continuing with Ray. Indeed, Mike Rutherford states in his autobiography that he did not feel Ray was a songwriter!!! How wrong he was!

Anyway, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks then decided that they's put Genesis on hold and Ray went off to establish a solo career releasing his first studio album Change in 2003. 

Song For A Friend is Ray's sixth solo studio release.

It's often a very gentle listen. This doesn't mean to say it hasn't got teeth and depth - because it has but it's presented in a soft and subtle way. And it's also got mountains of Heart.

The songs are very personal to Ray and working closely with Stiltskin guitarist Uwe Metzler, Ray has created an introspective and stripped back approach that suits the songs and their subject matter perfectly. If Jackson Browne had come up with this album of these songs, I reckon he'd be rather pleased.

Ray has a lovely burr to his voice and it is shown to it's best advantage with the often delicate presentation.

The opening track Old Book On The Shelf sets out the album's stall from track 1. Full of cinematic imagery, it gently rocks it's way into your subconscious and it's definitely one you'll be humming to yourself later.

Over My Dead Body begins with a lovely acoustic strum with Ray almost whispering his vocals. It's a lovely song, tinged with regret and sadness, which is a theme that continues throughout the whole album. But it's not a maudlin listen at all. Sometimes sadness can almost be uplifting and cathartic - very much in the vein of another of my albums of 2016 - 

HAPPY BLUE by Trevor Jones

 Cold Light Of Day continues the theme of loss and redemption based around another lovely melody and has some beautiful minor chord action unexpectedly slipped into the music. And Uwe provides some nice electric guitar work on this track. Indeed he underpins the album for Ray with some exquisite touches throughout.

The title track, Song For A Friend, is the touchstone of the whole album. It's a song written for Ray's close friend James Lewis, who killed himself after he had been confined to a wheelchair by an accident - and he did this by wheeling himself into the sea. 

Ray has turned his grief into a touchingly nostalgic tribute to his lost friend. The song actually moved my wife to tears when she first heard it. 

How long Is Too Long introduces some drums and organ into the guitar based mix and again it's Ray's pleading vocal that lifts the track and tugs at the heartstrings.

Not Long Til Springtime has more acoustic guitar picking and gentle ringing arpeggios before the piano joins in the musical tapestry. This is a song about the light at the end of the tunnel but presented in a very gentle and encouraging way. 

Miscommunication is the theme for the next song Backseat Driving with it's insistent acoustic guitar picking and Ray's once more pleading vocal.

The mood is lifted somewhat with the following song Parallel Souls. Complete with handclaps - a real around the campfire gentle singalong.

photo courtesy of Marcus Hanselmann

Tried and Failed is a relationship song. Again based beautifully around a simple acoustic guitar backing with a touch of electronica sweeps and a lovely slice of saxophone towards the end. It's another gentle, lilting song with a heartfelt vocal from Ray.

The album closer is an absolute show stopper. It's the only cover on the album. But what a cover.

How many artists would be brave enough to present an acoustic version of a Pink Floyd song? 

Well, Ray Wilson has, and it's an absolute triumph! It's High Hopes from the Pink Floyd album, The Division Bell. 

It's a fantastic way to close the album, gently epic with a superb version of the solo on electric guitar that finishes the song - just as it closes The Divison Bell. Truly inspired thinking.

photo courtesy of Kevin Dixon/Team Rock

In October - Ray will release his second album this year, Makes Me Think Of Home.

Where as Song For A Friend is a quiet and reflective album, Makes me Think is much more electric and uplifting. Although it also has some gentle moments, you can see why Ray chose to release these as two separate albums as they convey two differing moods.

Makes Me Think Of Home opens up with the uplifting They Never Should Have Sent You Roses complete with it's tasty electric guitar arpeggios. It sounds like something U2 or maybe a Daniel Lanois inspired Peter Gabriel could have come up with. Indeed, Ray has always had the shade of the Peter Gabriel about his voice.

Track 2 is The Next Life which has a bluesy feel and is similar fare to songs that Ray has produced in the past. A bit of filler but not a killer.

Tennessee Mountains puts Ray back into the driving seat with a song that could easily have fitted into Songs For A Friend but was probably a little bit too summery for that album's autumnal mood. It's an acoustic driven song with some lovely guitar phrases and harmonies. And some very nice electric guitar work to lift the song in the end.

The atmospherics return for Worship The Sun which develops into another mid-tempo to slow rocker. The one thing you immediately notice n this second album is the appearance of drums on every track driving it along. The saxophone makes a welcome return and helps gives the song more interest and a bit of additional colour.

For me, the killer track on the album comes next - a bright shining light of both albums - the uplifting and hopeful Amen To That. It shows Ray also has a pop sensibility, although it very rarely sees the light of day. So clap your hands and sing along. AMEN TO THAT :)

The acoustic slide introduces the next track Anyone Out There. It's a slow burner of a track that builds nicely with swathes of electronica and electric stings under the layers of guitar and keyboard. And then the saxophone adds another dimension as it brings the track to a climax. I can see this being a live favourite with the option to improvise at the end.

Don't Wait For Me is the most unsettling track on the album - complete with minor chords, odd vocal twists and unusual instrumentation. Does it work? I'm not sure although I applause Ray for trying something a bit different.

Track 9 of 10 is Calvin & Hobbes. It is based around the American Comic Strip of Bill Watterson. It's a lovely piano based ballad underpinned by soaring harmonies and sympathetic strings. It's epic in every sense of the word and is definitely the most Prog of all the songs on the two albums.

The closing track on the album is The Spirit. It's a country tinged song with wild west imagery and the accompanying whistling and acoustic guitar and tambourine. It's a very nice way to close the album. 

Makes Me Feel Like Home needs more emotional investment to reveal it's beauty than the more immediate and intimate Song For A Friend but both are ultimately rewarding.

And as I stated earlier, it is quite some achievement to produce two contrasting albums worth of high quality material.

Should you invest - most certainly. Give Ray a chance - he deserves that much at the very least.

Twitter -  @RayWilson_20

click here for The RAY WILSON Website

Live in 2016: Jimmy Webb at The Convent on Friday 9th September 2016

The word Legend is used much too often in Musical circles but tonight at The Convent we had a 'Real' Musical Legend with the appearance of Jimmy Webb.

But firstly...

The Man below is Matthew Roberts - who, with his wife Charlotte, has breathed new life into The Convent in South Woodchester near Stroud. It would take some venue to get me to drive the almost 2 hours from South Wales on a as regular as possible basis but The Convent is the best venue I have attended in my many years of attending gigs. It is a very special place tucked into the gorgeous Cotswold countryside and is building up a fantastic reputation among musicians and audiences alike. And not only is it a fantastic place to play and attend gigs - it also has the added advantages of being able to broadcast the gigs all over the world via absolutely brilliant internet broadcasts. Added to this, it has some exceptional recording facilities. Oh, and throw in a very unique hotel experience too.

And it's all down to Matthew, Charlotte and their exceptional team, who make you feel so welcome.

Tonight, Matthew announces that this show with Jimmy Webb is the first in a series of ICON performances coming to The Convent. I can't wait to see what Icons Matthew is bringing to The Convent in the future. But he's keeping it under one of his many literal hats at the moment.

What can you say about Jimmy Webb? Jimmy is one of the most distinguished songwriters in the world. He's had so many hits that we'd be here all night singing them. 

He's worked with most of the major players in popular music and tonight is an opportunity to hear Jimmy singing his own songs with just a piano accompaniment. In probably exactly the same way as they were originally written over the last 60 years. He also tells some insightful and entertaining stories about the people he has worked with. 

During this review, I will include some videos of the songs that Jimmy performs tonight. Some by Jimmy, some by other artists with Jimmy, some by the artists who have had the original hits with the included songs.

Jimmy opens the show with one of his biggest hits - The Highwayman - a huge hit for the Country supergroup of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson aka from then on as The Highwaymen.

I will not spoil the show for anyone who has yet to see it by unveiling the stories that Jimmy tells throughout the evening but I will mention some of the people he discusses. Such as Waylon Jennings with this song. Here it is performed by Jimmy and the wonderful songwriter Paddy McAloon from the band Prefab Sprout.

The Highwaymen performing The Highwayman

There is always something special about seeing a performer like Jimmy - a songwriter who has given other artists some of the biggest songs of their career. There is a beautiful vulnerability to these songwriters when performing their own songs. And you get variations in terms of the songs' presentations and performances. Shedding new light on some of the most recognised songs in the history of recorded music.

Jimmy will always be known for his musical relationship with Glen Campbell. This began in 1967 with the song By The Time I Get To Pheonix, of more later. But second song tonight is another of the huge songs from Glen Campbell, Gavlveston.

Here is Glen's original promo from 1968.

Another fruitful relationship for Jimmy was with the vocal group 5th Dimension. Their biggest hit comes up next - introduced by Jimmy as 'Are you old enough to remember the Nimble Advert?'

As with all of the songs tonight, Jimmy regales us with some excellent stories related to either the song or the artist.

Jimmy is such an unassuming and genuine guy. This comes across in his performance tonight. I had to almost pinch myself tonight just to remind myself that this guy on the stage has written ALL of these fantastic songs we were privileged to be listening to tonight.

And The Convent suits this performance beautifully with the glorious surroundings, superb sound quality and The Convent Grand piano.

The next song we are treated to was a hit for the great singer Art Garfunkel, who knows a thing or two about Iconic songwriters. It's called All We Know.

Is Jimmy Webb still relevant you may ask. Well, a quick answer is YES. Take the recent Kanye West song with Rhianna called Famous. This song heavily samples one of Jimmys's best songs - which has been a hit for many artists including the gorgeous version by Nina Simone.

Go and do what you wanna do is Jimmy's next song tonight.

Here is a link to the Kanye West song Famous, if you're interested in hearing it.

Kanye West Famous

I would have traveled the two hours today - just to hear Jimmy Webb perform the next song. It it one of my favorite songs of all time. It was a massive hit for Glen Campbell. It's Wichita Lineman. And Jimmy's version is SO different from Glen's but just as compelling. 

And here is tonight's performance. Just magical. It got the biggest standing ovation of the night.

I could do a whole Blog piece about Witchita Lineman so I just can't resist slipping in Glen's wonderful version. Jimmy talked a little of Glen's current state tonight. He saw him recently and stated that the place he know resides is just beautiful. I'm Glad :'(

Jimmy has had hits across all genres of music. This one he described as a puppy rescued by Judy Collins. I'll leave it at that. It's another of my all time favourite songs - and it's a real jewel :)

Here we are again, lucky enough to be able to see the night's performance thanks to Matthew and his team at The Convent.

The Moon's A Harsh Mistress.

Here is Judy's version,

Up next is a song from Jimmy's 2005 album - Twilight Of The Renegades - a lovely version of How Quickly.

What can you say about the next song tonight? One of the most enigmatic songs of all time. And it became a hit several times over. For differing artists from different genres. I remember hearing it for the first time and being completely blown away by it's baroque majesty and varying sections, come to think of it, it is almost Prog - I was in my very early teens. It was sung by the actor Richard Harris. It was MacArthur Park.

And here's Donna Summer's supreme 18 minute version. Get Dancing!!!!!!!

Obviously, Jimmy's version is much intense and personal tonight and he bangs away at those chords with a focused abandon. And it brought the house, or in this case The Convent, down. It also completed tonight's set.

But we weren't letting Jimmy escape without an encore. An Jimmy duly obliged with his first big hit as a songwriter - By The Time I Get To Phoenix, which proved a huge hit for Glen Campbell at the start of his solo career.

Here's a performance by Jimmy way back in 1971 on the superb Old Grey Whistle Test.

So, a supreme gig by a true Legend of music. The first of The Convent's Iconic Artist performances and what a way to start.

The artists who play The Convent always do a soundcheck. Tonight, Jimmy performed a song at the soundcheck which wasn't included in his show. But it's such a gorgeous version, I thought I'd include it for you.

If These Old Walls Could Speak.

With The Convent's superb recording facility, you can watch this whole show online for a small price at the link below. I can't recommend it highly enough.

To be able to watch the entire JIMMY WEBB performance - just click on this link

Twitter - @realjimmywebb

The Jimmy Webb Website

All Photos of Jimmy Webb courtesy of Eric Hobson Photography - I thank you Sir.

ERIC HOBSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Spotlight 2016: The Enid - Dust

It feels odd writing this. As I reveal another of my Albums Of 2016 and knowing that there won't be another like this by The Enid.

Last weekend, it was announced that lead vocalist Joe Payne had left the band. And today it was announced that two more long serving members had also left the band, leaving them as an instrumental three piece.

This week's departures, combined with the decision of Robert John Godfrey to quit the band following his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2012, means that there will be a very different 'next album' for the new Enid. 

The Enid were formed by the keyboard player, arranger and all round musical maverick Robert John Godfrey back in 1974.

Initially and instrumental unit, The Enid have released 16 albums up to this year's 17th, DUST.

DUST was conceived to be the final part of a trilogy of albums called The Journey's End Trilogy - which consist of Journey's End (2010), Invicta (2012) and Dust (2016).

Leviticus - from the album Invicta

The band have had many members over the years but the arrival of Joe Payne in 2011 was probably the most dramatic in terms of the change in direction and presentation of The Enid.

Here is a small biography of Joe courtesy of The Enid Website.

"Joe whose background and interests included concert piano, pop and progressive music, abstract theatre and admiration for ambitious performing artists such as Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel

At this time Joe was studying a Business Management degree at the Clare Business School, Buckinghamshire. His new insight into brand management fuelled an ambitious dissertation which challenged the possibility of rebranding The Enid into a more sustainable format. Though met with some hostility from fans, Joe pushed forward to transform The Enid from a poorly presented and dated instrumental band into a vocally led and visually ambitious outfit. Maintaining the band’s integrity and trademark sound, the evolution was successful, attracting a much wider demographic and expanding their audience substantially.

Joe now co-writes on all of the bands new material, writing melodic content and lyrics in collaboration with Robert John Godfrey and Max Read. His influence to create more visually dynamic and conceptual live shows have led the band to be recognised for their events as much as their music, gathering wide acclaim from the rock press and a “Live Event” nomination at the 2015 Progressive Music Awards.

Voted “Best Male Vocalist” two years running in the Prog Magazine Readers’ Poll, Joe is now coached in operatic vocal technique by one of the world’s leading Classical Voice teachers, Paul Farrington (currently vocal consultant to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, New National Theatre Tokyo, and Göteborgs Operan in Sweden). He is also directed in stagecraft by TV Illusionist Simon Drake, best known for his Channel 4 show “Secret Cabaret” and performance and production role in the Kate Bush “Tour of Life”."

Founder & Guiding Light - Robert John Godfrey

DUST is a brave, dramatic record. Is it Rock? Is it theatre? Is it Symphonic? Is it Choral? - It's all of these things. Truly progressive in all senses of the world. It is also captivating, enchanting, surprising and extremely bold. I guarantee you won't hear another record like it in 2016. It's rarely been far from my cd player since it was released in April.

Right from the first track, Born In The Fire, you know you're in for something a bit special and unusual. Starting with an insistent and foreboding drumbeat which is joined by many chanting voices - it feels like your listening to the soundtrack of one of the old MGM Biblical classic films of the 40s & 50s. It then builds into a gorgeous orchestral break with weeping strings and insistent brass. What an opening! The main song then breaks through the orchestral melee. And it's absolutely lovely. Highlighting Joe Payne's superb vocal technique. You can see on this album why he has garnered the awards. The track also features some sterling electric guitar work from Jason Ducker.

The glue that holds the album together is the keyboards and piano work of leader Robert John Godfrey who leads the music into the second track, the epic Someone Shall Rise. It's the splendid choral work that features in this second track. It's almost hymnic. It's another dramatic and moving piece of music with unexpected twists and turns.

Someone Shall Rise

Monster comes next and once again features the wonderful vocal arrangements by Max Read who brings The Enid Choir to life. It's a gentle track in an album of dynamic extremes but nonetheless holds your attention.

It's an album that is also steeped in a certain sadness, given more poignancy now considering what has happened to the band since the album's release.

The sweeping strings of  Monsters leads into the next track, 1000 Stars. Once again, it's a very filmic score that breaks gently into a theatrical, dramatic song.

It's really an album that needs to be experienced in one sitting. Do not try and pick tracks as you'll not get the full effect of it's relatively short (these days) 42 minute span.

Robert John Godfrey Interview on the release of Dust

The electric guitar makes a welcome return on the next track When The World Is Full, it's a soft sinister track which brings to mind Peter Gabriel - especially when he revisits his back catalogue in the orchestral settings, which he has recently released. The track then enters into a more orchestral realm with the electric guitar accompaniment. 

Probably the most dramatic track of the whole album comes next in the shape of Trophy. Imagine everything you have heard so far distilled into one track. This is Trophy.

Joe Payne Interview on the release of Dust

We're then into the final track heavy hearts - the most conventional song on the album, complete with drumbeat and the layered choral vocals. But the album still ends on a dramatic high.And it's absolutely flown by.

Joe Payne

When you listen to early Enid you can see why the introduction of Joe Payne polarised some of the band's fans. From an instrumental based band to something like DUST which is very vocally rich ,in all senses of the world, was a huge leap of faith to take.

I have enjoyed most incarnations of The Enid and I'm especially sad to see the departure of Joe as I felt that he made The Enid sound like no other band out there at the moment. 

And I wish him all of the best in his solo ventures and will follow his career avidly.

However, change is once more upon The Enid as Robert John Godfrey bows out of the band which at the moment of writing is a three piece of Dominic Tolfield (Drums & Percussion) Jason Ducker (Guitar) & Zachary Bullock (Multi Instrumentalist). This week's departure of  Dave Storey (Drums - original member) and long term member Max Read (Multi Instrumentalist, Composer, Arranger & Producer) now leaves the road clear for The Enid to reinvent themselves once again and let the younger generation take this most unexpected of bands on their next journey.

I, for one, will be interested to see where this new journey takes them.

Twitter - @Joseph_Payne

@therealenid

THE ENID UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2016

click for THE ENID WEBSITE

Live in 2016: Karnataka at Acapela Studios, Cardiff on Saturday 3rd September 2016

This was my second time seeing Karnataka in 2016 - and my first time visiting the Acapela Studios venue in Pentrych, Cardiff.

The venue is an old converted church which Welsh Harpist Catrin Finch has turned into a studio and venue. And she and her team have done a great job.

The first time I saw Karnataka this year was at The Globe in Cardiff which is a rock venue with no frills. They were excellent that night but I was so looking forward to seeing them bring their Secrets Of Angels Tour to this most intimate of venues. 

Click Here for a review of The Globe gig

With only two more live dates to go in 2016, Karnataka were clearly up for tonight's show before they head off back into the musical ether to conjure up what will hopefully be the follow up to award winning album Secrets Of Angels, which they play in its entirety tonight. 

Now with the stable line up of Founder Ian Jones (Bass) Enrico Pinna (Guitar/vocals) Cagri Tozluoglu (Keyboards) Jimmy Pallagrosi (Drums) and the sublime Hayley Griffiths (Vocals) the band have clearly tightened up over this tour and are now an even more formidable live unit.

With Cagri up on the pulpit and the band tucked nicely beneath him they kick off the show with the opening track from the Secrets album - Road To Cairo.

It's a fantastic opening song full of power and energy and it gets the crowd on their side from song one.

It is great to see that the gig has attracted fans from all over the UK and not just from Wales and the South West of England. Many of the fans here are ardent supporters and have seen the band many times in all types of venues from intimate ones like this through to the festival circuit.

The band seem perfectly at ease in this type of venue and the open floor in front of them allows both Hayley and Enrico the chance to show off their skills as they move into the space and nearer to the seated audience.

On June 25th the band played a special gig at the O2 in London which they filmed for a future dvd release. If it's anything like their last live dvd release - New Light - then we're in for a treat.

Although the band play the whole of the Secrets Of Angels album tonight there is still some room for earlier classic songs from the previous albums such as Moment In Time and Forsaken.

Click To Play FORSAKEN Live

Click here to see Fairytale Lies live

It's great to see how much the band has grown over the last 5 years, especially Hayley Griffith who was once again just fantastic tonight. She has become such a confident front person for the band and links all of the musical magic that swirls around her. She has what seems to be boundless energy and her ability to sing and dance around at the same time is truly mesmerising.

There is even time to showcase a new song Twist Of Fate which bodes well for the next album.

Click To Play TWIST OF FATE Live

Keeping to the template of the rest of the tour - the show is split into two halves. This gives the audience a break within the two hour and twenty minute show but also gives Hayley the chance of a costume change.

Part two is just as special as Part one and opened with the epic Serpent & The Sea from The Gathering Light album.

It's always difficult trying to write a review for another performance from the same tour, especially with a similar set list but one thing I have to say is that the band have improved even from the high standard they set for themselves at the start of 2016.

Karnataka have found that almost telepathic communication that the best bands develop over the years to produce a slick and assured performance. And this is exactly what they achieve in this evening's performance. The interaction between all the members of the band - even Cagri who is playing The Reverend for the evening placed up in the pulpit. Very often forgotten, unless you happen to be Sir Richard Of Wakeman. Cagri provides the colours and textures for Enrico and Hayley to weave their respective magic and he does this in spades tonight.

Ian Jones is the founder and rock of the band and his solidity and bass lines are a joy, especially in the more complicated musical passages. As principal songwriter, often with Hayley these days, Ian's role in the band cannot be underestimated. 

Enrico Pinna is a guitarist of immense taste - I know this as he likes Pat Metheny - and during the evening he underpins most of the music with his sparking and sympathetic guitar playing. He is on excellent form tonight.

In Jimmy Pellagrosi, Karnataka have found a drummer with skill and personality. Often rising from his seat to play upright, I can honestly say he is the most musical of drummers I have seen live since Keith Moon of The Who slipped off the mortal coil.

Indeed, he enjoyed having his moment in the spotlight as he came into the centre of the floor to take the loudest applause of the evening. It was an unexpected and joyful moment - not the sort of thing you expect at a Progressive rock gig. It was more in common with the sadly missed Paul Hester of Crowded House, who would keep Neil Finn on his toes for every Crowded House gig.

A nice touch this evening was Hayley coming across to wish a couple in the audience a Happy Anniversary and even give them a card signed by all the band. A very nice touch indeed.

The highlight of this tour has been the showstopping performance of the title track Secrets Of Angels. It is 20 minutes of pure drama and ecstasy for this old music lover.

The first time I heard it live it brought me literally to tears. And do you know what, it happened again.

It is a truly breathtaking piece of music and is Hayley's chance to prove what an amazing voice and vocal range she has. Absolutely astonishing. It brought the longest standing ovation of the night and rightly so. 

The encore for this performance was another highlight from the Secrets Of Angels album - the lovely Feels Like Home.

It was brilliant to see the band surpass the excellent performance they gave back in April at The Globe.

Tonight, they took the opportunity to come and and talk to the fans after the show - sign albums and autographs and even get some photos taken. They are really nice people and are truly appreciative of their fans. They realise the distance that some of the fans have taken to get here tonight and make sure they talk to them and thank them for their support.

 So, it was a chance to say goodbye to Karnataka for 2016 and let them go and write and work on their next opus. They have already promised some live dates in 2017 - so if you get a chance, go and see them, they are one band you really must see live Music Lovers.

Twitter - @Karnataka

The Karnataka Website