Undercurrent - Steve Robinson Album Review
Photo Credit:Scott Morrison
Album Review
Sunshine state + Brit songwriter = Magic.
This gorgeous, yes gorgeous album is Steve Robinson’s second album, hot on the heels of 2005s Away For The Day, and what an impressive one it is too. Robinson is a one-time side kick of Byrds legend Roger McGuinn and former frontman of Florida folk combo The Headlights. Undercurrent is an audio delight from start to finish. The Englishman, relocated many years in Florida, has certainly benefitted from his time Stateside, because this 10-tracker is, in most part, drenched in sunshine. There couldn’t be a better record label name for him to appear on, with sun-kissed melodies and harmonies aplenty, you instantly warm to his songwriting charms. With a lot of the past and present, both musically and lyrically filtering through, it makes for fascinating listening. His success is combining his Englishness with his present location.
Opener Wooden Hill is a lament about his dearly departed mother with tender lines ,
I see her every time I close my eyes / I can’t believe how much I need her in my life.
Robinson’s English roots seep through on a song about his daughter Emma – Please Emmalene. On this there’s a touch of Jimmy Page-styled mandolin.
Another English connection is The Beatles- styled Love Is Real.
Macca could well be playing piano and the guitarist could be George Harrison. Even the song’s title is a Fab Four cert, whereas Forget About Love, a lighweight rocker, has more of an American feel, with bouncing banjo and southern rock guitar solos and masses of harmonica, a la Ry Cooder.
Drawing on his undeniable folk sensibilities, he’s not afraid to impart his social conscience and observation via a gentle acoustic delight – Road To Ruin – a comment on global conflict :
Holy rhymes and pledges grave / That one kills and this one saves / You’ll have lots of flags to wave / On the road to ruin.
In the background there’s a simple but menacing string arrangement that texturises the acoustic picks.
On Class Clown, there’s shades of Crosby,Stills, Nash And Young, especially on the supreme harmonies which are carried along by its steady pace, which also find themselves on Wasted And Waiting, which, towards its close, is transformed by some sublime violin by Celtic fiddler Victor Gagnon.
I’m In Trouble (Again) is a definite tribute to Celtic / English folk, with flutes and mandolin dressing the sweetest of melodies.
Modern pop culture doesn’t escape his attention either. Boring God , through a not so obvious Beatles template, he digs with,
All the right moves and necessary poses / Praying to the stars looking down their noses.Unlike so many artists, Robinson hasn’t suffered the dreaded ‘ second album’ syndrome.
Just about every song fits the BBC Radio 2 playlist. So, Steve, send it on over to the Beeb, right now !
File under : Very classy album.
