Back to this exuberant album with track seven, called “Thousands or More”.
This is an infectious Pete Flood arrangement. (Pete Flood is a percussion player with Bellowhead who lists coal scuttle, clockwork toys and frying pan among the instruments he plays). It all starts with a ‘trompe l’oreille’ chorus, all finger in the ear, before breaking out into fizzy, frothy stomper. As it were. Love it.
“Dockside Rant/Sailing on the Tide” is/are the only original/s on the album and, for some reason, somehow seem almost a little monochrome in comparison to the rest of the track list. They come upon you as if they are here for a reason – a trip to the bar or break for the band. “I’ll fill with a couple of reels, Ok!? You get the Guinness in.” Having said that, I did say ALMOST monochrome. For me, again, the tuba (or possibly helicon) rescues this, making it a fun “top and bottom” arrangement.
“The Wife of Ushers Well” is another on the sinister side and wonderful for it. A song based on a woman mourning her sons death for a year and a day. This piece prompted a long conversation with D1 about just exactly which time signature it was in. We plumped for 11/8, although I have to say maths was never my strong point.
“What’s the life of man (anymore than a leaf)”
This seems to match the Hogarthian cover the best of all on the album – you sense it was the one the designer listened to over and over before thinking of the picture. After a medieval joust of an intro, it sinks into a sombre chant-like chorus – there’s a wonderful Addams Family feel to the whole thing. And deceptively complex, I would wager. Were I a betting man. For some reason, I think it’s fair to label this song as somewhat ‘glass half empty’.
“Lilibulero”. If “What’s the Life of Man…” is the the dark kernel of the album, then this is the pumping heart. Yes, even despite its very own dark matter. It’s a combination of Lili PLUS… a set of words called The Farmer Cursed Wife and it appears a fine match, giving the impression (at least in OUR car) that this is what the album has been leading up to. It’s great fun, full of extra beats that make it a moreish minefield to sing along to. Unless you are, of course, innately musical, like D1, in which case you simply snigger at Daddy in the rear view mirror when he gets it all wrong. Mental note to self: DEFINITELY going to sing this one with our choirs.
“Go my way” rounds off the album and a lovely jaunt it is too. Possibly misplaced after Lili in that, if you are listening in sequence, it can feel a little anti climactic. But I her what you’re saying – woah, Grandad, who listens to albums like that anymore?
Verdict : YUMEROUS!
Nourishment : A feast. A Hogarthian feast, with Dark chocolate cake, bleeding crimson raspberry jam.
Smile factor : 7, but devilish smiles.
Random guest statistic : number of f’s volume best played at in car- at least 4
Tim Lihoreau 