Artist: Adrian T. Bell
Title: Different World
Genre: Alternative Rock
Release Date: 15th November 2013
Label: Megafone
Album Review
Adrian T. Bell, for those not in the know, is front-man with the highly acclaimed alt-rock outfit THE PROSTITUTES, a band who's last album 'Deaf To The Call' was impressive enough to entice Youth (of KILLING JOKE fame) to produce it. As a solo artist, and this is his first collection of songs under his own name, there's versatility, and a wordly-wise observation, emotion and cynicism at play amongst these beautifully crafted gems. This is song-writing in the classic sense, and throughout there's a clear nod to the singer's homeland of England, the story-telling and attention to the minute of daily life reminiscent at times of those character-driven song-stories beloved of Ray Davies, even Lennon and McCartney.
'Mindless State Of A Homeless Man' is a gently tense morality tale, and has a sense of yearning for times now gone, a theme running throughout 'Different World'. With harmonies, whistles and a rolling beat, it's intelligent pop and totally addictive. 'Just Wanted You To Know' is much meatier, a distorted vocal and jangly guitars giving way to a bitter-sweet chorus with some furious percussion, and the sense that the protagonist here is painfully at odds with the object of his desire. Recent single 'Viva La Revolucion' is simply stunning, somehow channelling the ghost of fellow Geordie songwriter ALAN HULL through THE LEVELLERS to current MANIC STREET PREACHERS. Foot stomps, clicking fingers and a bizarre waltzy mid-section make this tautly chanted folk-rock tale an obvious highlight here. Good stuff indeed.
The title track is a middle-aged man's journey back in time to when things were simple, a tired but resigned acceptance that this is now, however hard that can be to cope with. There's something beautifully pure in the shrug and sigh of the sentiment, and it does succeed in sounding remarkably like THE BEATLES at their quintessentially English best. And that's no idle comparison. Shaking it all up a bit next comes the disco swish of funky 'Realize', and try not moving to this without a wry smile as you imagine Nile Rogers producing it and Mr Bell himself perhaps belting it out wearing luminous flares and Elton John glasses. Mad, but nicely restrained too. The real weepy moment comes on 'Dance With Me One More Time', distant, mournful guitars allowing space for piano and voice to flourish, and the beautifully sung refrain is desperately sad. This is a skilfully delivered master-class in delicate atmospherics and nostalgic melancholy.
'Blew My Mind' seems relatively tame afterwards, although it's a solid enough song, if a bit workmanlike. However the gently strummed 'Nothing Happened' gets things firmly back on the message. It sounds like it could comfortably sit in any of the last 4 decades, JOHNNY CASH and SIMON AND GARFUNKEL for the modern age, and its simple chorus will have you tapping your foot and smiling well before the “Sha-la-la-la's” kick in. Which leaves 'The Train Moves On', a song which, judging by the title, stubbornly refuses to dwell for too long in that place we call the past. It's a sort of rite of passage, and it has a slow, persistent and steady motion to it that implies a difficult journey, but never a derailment, and it's an excellent end to 'Different World'.
This is a special album, by a songwriter who knows his craft. The songs here are wry and clever, but never cocky, patronising or superior, and you sense hope and a deep love of humanity underneath the grumpiness, doomed relationships, ageing and loss. This may be the private world of ADRIAN T. BELL, but there is something here for everyone, and a sense of real belonging on offer to those who dare to look and feel.
Tracklist
01. Mindless State Of A Homeless Man
02. Just Wanted You To Know
03. Viva La Revolucion
04. Different World
05. Realize
06. Dance With Me One More Time
07. Blew My Mind
08. Nothing Happened
09. The Train Moves On
Line-up
Adrian T. Bell - Vocals, guitar
also featuring: Tim Rickard, Michael Rendall, Van Cartier, Paul Lancaster, Radimo Vychopen, Timothy Martin Bell
Website
https://www.facebook.com/adriantbelldifferentworld / https://www.youtube.com/user/adriantdbell
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Total: 9 / 10
Comments powered by CComment