NEIL HALSTEAD - Sleeping On Roads

Neil Halstead first appeared in the early nineties when his band, Slowdive, released their first couple of EPs. After three albums of atmospheric guitar pop and vaporous vocals inspired by the likes of My Bloody Valentine and the Cocteau Twins, the band changed musical direction, and, as Mojave 3, crafted a more refined acoustic sound. Today, still heading the band, he releases his first solo effort.
Halstead started working on these nine songs over two years ago, and after road testing them while touring with Kathryn Williams and Turin Brakes, he eventually laid them down on tape and dressed these bare acoustic compositions with drums, piano, trumpet and discreet electronics. The mood here is laidback and peaceful as the songs follow a similar stripped down path as Mojave 3’s recent Excuses For Travellers. Halstead gives the impression to whisper them straight down you ear, as if he wanted to prevent them from being heard by anyone else. Comparisons with Bob Dylan, Nick Drake or Neil Young have been drawn since the early days of Mojave 3, and Sleeping On Roads will only highlight his musical talent. Halstead creates delicate melodies onto which he attaches little everyday life stories of love, heartache and hope. The album kicks off with the beautiful Seasons, Two Stones In My Pocket and Driving With Bert. Seasons and Driving With Bert are two slightly up-tempo pieces of perfect pop, and both feature Mark Armstrong on trumpet, with the melody of the later also being emphasized by a harmonium line. Two Stones In My Pocket displays a more melancholic mood, and shows Halstead as he lingers between guitars and keyboards. These songs are in essence reminiscent of some of his best work with Mojave 3, although the atmosphere here is slightly more intimate and reserved. Other songs, such as Hi-Lo And Inbetween, Martha’s Mantra or Dreamed I Saw Soldiers accentuate the slightly moody nature of Halstead’s compositions. Sleeping On Roads is however not a dark record, as his mastery of melodic structure, song writing and instrumentation allows him to counterbalance the darker side of his music with simple, yet effective arrangements.
Sleeping On Roads prove if needed be that Neil Halstead is one of the most talented songwriters of his generation. Here, without the protection of the Mojave 3 shell, his genius emerges bare and untouched.