The Memory Band – Oh My Days (Hungry Hill)
3/5
By: Richard Brant
After the mixed verdicts on second album Apron String, The Memory Band, brainchild of Stephen Cracknell, are back with Oh My Days, a third crack at their brand of folk with the standard rolling line of contributors throwing their talents in to the mix.
A building instrumental flanked with cellos, twinkling harp, and intricate percussion opens proceeding in the form of ‘Crow’ followed by what sounds to be a declaration of a mission plan for this new album in ‘A New Skin.’ “New start, new beats, new heart, new skin” sings Jess Roberts, with all the melodic, country, pop, blues you would expect from the likes of Fleet Wood Mac. It’s a promising and strong start.
Then ‘Run River Run’ meanders in to focus and although it is pleasant enough, with the harmonised vocals and intermingled violins providing a drifting melody, it doesn’t grab hold of you and invite you back for another listen. In contrast to this the compelling instrumental ‘Blackberry Way’ rhythmically joins with a distinct African vibe, the likes of Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabete springing to mind, as Cracknell’s guitar dances over tribal like percussion joined by circling violins and violas.
A change is in the air once more when the pop blues of ‘Electric light’ slow things down to a more melancholic pace again, Cracknels gruff voice accompanied by that of Hannah Caughlin as piercing viola darts in and out. This Melancholic tone is continued in the almost sea shanty like ‘Come Wander with Me.’ The theme then changes once more as the 60’s “summer of love,” Donavan, type guitar strums house harmonised vocals, recorders and all.
It’s on this note that you start to get confused as to what exactly the theme of this album is, and to be quite frank, it seems there isn’t one. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, it’s just that so varied are the genres that it almost seems to be just a mish-mash of ideas thrown in a pot. Coincidently we reach the lullaby like ‘Some Things You Just Can’t Hide’ where the lyrics “tell me what you really think about me, give it to me straight” feature. The truth is there is almost too much going on and not enough concentration on crafting a flowing album and getting a particular style “just right.”
To illustrate the point, you are then straight in to ‘Demon Days’ a stomping country western blues tune, with the steady percussion sounding like horses hooves on a trail in the wilderness. Being one of the more stand out tunes, Liam Bailey’s voice is perfect for its tormented role within the intricate acoustic guitar entwined song, plus Hannah Caughlin’s backing vocals serve as a perfect subtle emphasis when utilised.
Then, of course, you are once again pulled in another direction by ‘Ghosts.’ This slow moving tune rises and falls all the way through with a very “Disney” like nuance as the use of the thumb piano helps pronounce. This, I and I don’t mean this in a bad way, would not sound out of place in amongst the tunes of the Lion King sound track.
To take us to the end ‘Love is the Law’ returns to the trundling folk blues while ‘By the Time it Gets Dark’ is lifted by a traditional folk melody aided by the pure vocals of Nancy Wallace.
In some form of attempt to “tie it all in,” instrumental ‘The Snake’ harks back to that promising second track ‘New Skin,’ but it’s a bit too late. There is no denying the talent of those involved in The Memory Band, as on the whole if you listen to the tracks individually, there are some good tunes and occasional small flashes of genius. From what is a promising start the impact of the better tunes on Oh My Days is lost through the confusion and inconsistency of the album as a whole.
The Memory Band - Ghosts by the memory band
Artists in this article: The Memory Band
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