As
Hudini was a master of escapism, Warren Defever is a master
at renewing himself. His Name Is Alive’s first two albums
were very much living in the realms of label boss Ivo Watts-Russell’s
This Mortal Coil project, before Defever turned to electrified
twisted rock. For this seventh album, the man changes once again
direction inexpectantly, as he works with gospel singer Lovetta
Pippen.
If Someday My Blues Will Cover The Earth engages in
RnB frolicking, we are far from the commercial end of the genre.
In fact, this album is closer to the roots, as HNIA linger towards
the musical expressions of the likes of Billy Holiday or Aretha
Franklin. The moods here is laidback, the atmosphere slightly
tensed, as songs come crashing into each other. As ever with
HNIA, Defever alternates between short interludes and longer
tracks. The album is not devoid of tuneful moments, with the
radio-friendly Write My Name In The Groove or the heart-felt
Nothing Special or Your Cheating Heart leading
the way. There are traces of the old HNIA here too, on the beautifully
crafted Our Last Affair, Interlude (2) or
Are We Still Married, reminiscent of the unapologetic
dark pop of the early days. Are We Still Married was
actually first featured on the band’s second album, Home
Is In Your Head, in a totally different version however.
Someday My Blues Will Cover The Earth celebrates ten
years of HNIA wanderings with their most accessible record to
date. Commercial success is not the point though. The compositions
are as uncompromising as ever, only slightly more polished perhaps.
The heart warming vocal performances by Lovetta Pippen, ranging
from classic jazz (Solitude) to natural blues (Karins
Blues), give the necessary emotional input to any HNIA
record. Wrapped up in less than fifty minutes and thirteen songs,
Someday My Blues Will Cover The Earth is as dark and
complex as always, although this time, Defever allows some light
to come through.
With arguably the best album title of this year so far, Warren
Defever and his variable geometry orchestra go deep beneath
the surface to carve some of the most emotionally charged RnB
songs heard for years. Far from the hype, HNIA continue their
journey through music, adding one more star to an already very
consistent carreer.
5/5 |
