Elly Roberts reviews
M.Ward: Post War
Distributed by
4AD
- Released: September 2006
- Rating: 8/10
Plaudits are already flying in for the Californian singer-songwriter’s fifth album.
Rated as one of the best Americana singer-songwriters in the States right now,
he’s yet to make a serious commercial breakthrough in the UK. Surely, it’s
only a matter of time before he breaks here.
Post War is an ominous title (we’ve already had
Neil Young's Living With War
and now Iron Maiden’s A Matter Of Life And Death), this one might just
do the ‘Magic Trick’.
Album number four, Transistor Radio was critically acclaimed, so it
appears, is this. It’s a very polished effort, but a long way off being a
masterpiece in the
Rufus Wainwright 'Want Two'
mould.
Hollowed-voice Ward likes to work on his own in Portland Oregon. This time
he’s brought on - board Rachel Blumberg, Jim James, Neko Case, Jordan Hudson,
effectively his touring band for the past 18 months, making this his “first
band record”. A fascinating combination of straddling folk, sophisticated
picks and dreamy blues (with some deft use of the long forgotten tremolo on
the title track, Eyes On The Prize and Neptune’s Net), the
album is really a celebration of life and eternal hope, so it’s not too
downbeat.
Working with Mike Mogis for the first time, its also got a Bright Eyes
(Connor Oberst) feel here and there, especially on Chinese Translation
and just a smidging of Micah P.Hinson, though more accessible. Rousers
include a pseudo-live Magic Trick (reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen’s
Pete Seeger tribute-covers), and Neptune’s Net.
Rasping Right In The Head could be Paul Simon of the 21st century,
with its wiry-twisted guitar solos.
A stripped down and bar-like piano rambler, Rollercoaster is as
earthy as the CD gets, with Amanda Lawrence’s string-work especially on
Today’s Undertaking, making it a collection highlight.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
