I’m an Artist is released on January 31st, his first new album in five years. Rambow was born in Canada, came to London in the 1970’s, thrived in the pub-rock scene, backed Brian Eno, co-wrote Kirsty McColl’s ‘There’s A Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis’.
What is to my mind the best track on the album, is unlikely to get much of an airing outside of live performances and underground radio stations – the title begins with ‘Mother..….’ followed by another seven letters; which is a pity – there’s an energy to the track, not least because of some vibrant lead guitar by Luke Edney, equivalent to the energy of the title.
Elsewhere ‘Roots And Wings’ has a gentler americana-ish style and a splendidly wry line “My son always said / Take my advice and leave your device alone. / The irony wasn’t lost on me / That he sent this message from his phone”. The song also reflects what I assume is its lockdown genesis and the fear that when the world starts again it will be the same as before.
Even though there’s a reflectiveness to the lyrics, there’s a pub-raw-rockness to the title track that would get you bouncing along. Ditto with ‘A Dollar Short’.
‘Bus Stop’ is languid country with a chorus to have you joining in. ‘The Man In The Iron Mask’ rocks. The final two tracks ‘The Road To Hell’ [not that one] and ‘Lost Without You’ are based in country tradition.
Rambow said of the album, “In the relative vacuum of Covid lockdown there was time and emotional variance to look at a wide range of topics, themes and emotions.” As ever in life, the strengths and weaknesses of this album come from the same place. There’s a musical as well as an emotional variance to I’m an Artist; it’s a breadth that both makes the album interesting but also makes it feel more of a collection of songs.
The album’s launch gig is at the award-winning Green Note venue in Camden on January 24th.
Mike Wistow
Artist’s website: https://www.facebook.com/ThePhilipRambow/
‘Oceans Apart’ – official video:
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