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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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Edwyn Collins’ best known solo work is 1994’s worldwide hit With A Girl Like You. Previously, he was principle songwriter with Orange Juice. Now he returns with his sixth solo album, but it hasn’t been without considerable anguish. It began in 2004/2005 until he was struck by a stroke, with lengthy neurological rehabilitation that followed. Recorded at his own West Heath studio in North East London with a small band of musicians, Home Again is being regarded in the music circles as one of his finest. Naturally, we’ll never know whether his health shock was partly responsible for this relatively low key collection which took three years to surface. Much of it is reflective stuff, with a folkie touch here and there which will probably appeal to his hardcore fanbase. After that, it’s anyone’s guess. Despite his health issues, his deep honeyed vocals remain intact, as they’re a principal feature still.
Musically, it doesn’t appear to have an obvious lead-in ‘universal’ single like With A Girl Like You, though One Track Mind may be chosen but will inevitably fail to reach the top 40. It’s the only ‘poppy’ song here with it’s steady beat. Then I Cried is of a similar ilk, but again not quite strong enough, but the Motown beat is useful. My choice would be gorgeous floater You’ll Never Know My Love, which is pretty darned tasty. One Is A Lonely Number has a neat beat and mellow feel, full of heavenly melodies a la Orange Juice. Its key figure is the sublime various instrumentation that drift along, along with Collins’s unmistakeable deep vocals.
There are some very effective ballads such as poigniant acoustic Home Again, that has parallels with Richard Hawley’s songbook. Deeply atmospheric Leviathan is a mesmerising track, simply because of his vocal control, whereas In Your Heart is a real beauty and his most stripped back sound here. Striking a blistering pace, Superstar Talking Blues is an all out Western romp – harmonica, wailing Blues guitar and a niffty sticks outing. Weak spots are the tedious Written In Stone and A Heavy Sigh. Despite these trivial criticisms, it may well be a slow burner. Oh, a big welcome back Edwyn !
Weblink: edwyncollins.com
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
