In a search for new music, it is easy to overlook the brilliant work of those more established artists.
At the start of 2015, I had reached out to some friends for a few recommendations and was pointed in the direction of The Waterboys new CD, ‘Modern Blues’
After the 2013 tribute to WB Yeats, I had everything but given up on them – at the same time as the friends’ recommendation, BBC Radio 2 published an in-session of the band covering Prince’s “Purple Rain”.
Awesome.
A little older, the band has lost none of their magic – at all.
‘Destinies Entwined’ sounds like a song made for a modern musical and is quite an unexpected opener to a Waterboys CD, and whilst Scott retains his distinctive voice, the track has a roving guitar sound not dissimilar to Gary Moore in Thin Lizzy, (most likely played by Steve Wickham on his electric fiddle.)
No harm done at all.
The next track is Scott back to his poetic best and at the same time ‘November Tale’ manages to doth the cap in the direction of The Eagles and Jeff Lynn and ELO.
That’s quite a compliment, by the way.
‘Modern Blues’, recorded in Dublin and Nashville, is distinctively a Waterboys album through the voice of Scott and the intricate play of Steve Wickham but without any of the Celtic references.
I suppose the clue is in the title and the 3rd track on the CD ‘Still a Freak’ shows the bands take on “modern” blues, and is followed quickly by ‘I Can See Elvis’ which is just a lovely Waterboys song, full of rich rambling lyrics set against a very basic but effective tune, and some classic guitar.
If you are looking for a great song for your next Sunday morning lie-in, then look no further than ‘Nearest Thing To Hip’ – a little bit too much like Van Morrison, but that’s only an observation not a criticism.
Mike Scott has been refining his craft since 1983 and whilst his work through the Waterboys and as a solo-artist can be described as spiritual, mystical or magical, ‘Modern Blues’ is a very pleasant departure from all those Celtic references past though you are always waiting for him to starting making shapes about New Grange or Iona.
But in this album, that doesn’t happen. And that’s ok.
‘Modern Blues’ isn’t perfect and has a couple of weak songs in the middle of it all, but its still a great musical start to the 2015, and if any of the new kids on the block can come up with something as good, I’ll be glad to give it a listen.