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Elly Roberts reviews

Elvis Perkins: Ash Wednesday

Distributed by
XL Recordings

October 2007

Rating: 4/10

‘Son of Psycho’ releases debut album.

Elvis Perkins, son of Anthony Perkins who tragically died of AIDS and mother actress – photographer Berry Berenson who was killed on the American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to LA on 9/11, has plenty to say. Their deaths have clearly impacted on him.

Young Elvis began playing sax, then guitar and wrote poetry which morphed into lyrics later on. Inevitably, there’s a deep sense of melancholy permeating Ash Wednsday. Using a folky downbeat template, it can become overwhelmingly depressing, but one has to look at the background, if you are able to do so.

This is not the kind of album you’ll readily pass on to your chums and say, "Wow this brilliant", because it isn’t.

Some songs are quite accessible, others are too personal and indulgent for general consumtion, though he has an ever growing fanbase. Somber While You Were Sleeping is segued by a more uplifting shuffle for All The Night Without Love. His voice is uncertain and hesitant, though some sprighty gypsy tinged violin rasies the stakes.

A bit of fun emerges throughout May Day, a sort of light crunchy rocker (dirty guitars) that would please Neil Young any day, whereas wet ballad It's Only Me passes without registering any kind of conviction, principally due to lack lustre singing. Again his singing doesn’t shine on Emile’s Vietnam In The Sky but more gypsy violin compenstates on the best track of the album, with It’s A Sad World After All coming a close second even though it’s dripping with sadness and classy backups by Janeen Sawyer.

Closer Good Friday is spooky. Haunting piano and harmonium add to the chilling atmosphere.

Not a great debut - some interesting moments in places. Elvis Perkins has a long way to go, that’s if he can shake off the past.

Weblinks: elvisperkins.net / xlrecordings.com

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The full list of tracks included are :

1. While You Were Sleeping 2. All The Night Without Love 3. May Day 4. Moon Woman 11 5. It’s Only Me 6. Emile’s Vietman In The Sky 7. Ash Wednesday 8. The Night & The Liquor 9. It’s A Sad World after All 10. Sleep Sandwich 11. Good Friday

Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.

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