The prolific Robb Johnson is back in slightly raucous full band mode with an album that sounds as though it was made just for fun. Or does it. The thing about Robb’s writing is that it can be very direct or quite oblique, leaving you to discover the thorns among the roses. The band on Voila! Here We Are is John Forrester, Sian Allen, Fae Simon and new drummer Kirsteen Bristow with guest spots from Ali Gavan and Roger Watson, back in the studio for the first time in ages, and they all sound as though they are enjoying themselves.
The title of the opener, ‘Better Now Than Nothing But’, misses out the final two words – “Only Just”. It talks of falling leaves (those lightweights), the Berlin Wall, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, uniforms and the uselessness of the media. Pick over that lot. ‘Phun City’, with huge brass by Sian Allen has the feel of late 60s rock and namechecks Cemetery Junction while leading neatly into ‘Poptastic’ which remains in the same era but moves to London. And then comes the line “What did you do in the class war, daddy?” so not quite Smashie and Nicey, then. Fae Simon takes the lead vocals on ‘Cheap And Cheerful’ with the immortal line “same old arse, different pain” sounding like another view of the past.
‘This Isn’t Gaza’ sees Robb on top songwriting form as he contrasts the worries of our suburban middle classes with what is happening on the strip and points out that we have running water and fresh food…and ambulances. Nice hand percussion by Kirsteen contrasts well with Robb’s plinky piano. ‘They Will Be Counted’ is very much a revision of ‘Masters Of War’ and if that doesn’t mean anything to you please go away. Excellent drumming from Kirsteen again and more strident brass from Sian.
‘The Last Of The Mohicans’ is a return to thorns and roses but is also a lamentation on growing old. The Mohicans are indigenous to Portobello Road and Robb pulls no punches in his assessment. You really had to be there to understand some of the references and I wasn’t. There is ringing brass on ‘That Long Lost Weekend’ finding Robb in a seriously reflective mood and then Fae takes the lead on ‘The Union Train’ while the band rocks like good ‘uns and the chorus cleverly imitates the sound of a train whistle. If we’re not on that union train then perhaps ‘We Are The River’.
More nostalgia comes with ‘The 149’ which apparently plies the Seven Sisters Road but from the outset Robb is celebrating that “people are just people” and continues that theme with ‘BangBangBang’, letting rip on electric guitar. Believe it or not, ‘Emergency Marmite Sandwich’ is a sentimental(ish) letter to a lost love and is back to lyrical playfulness.
Robb observes that Voila! Here We Are could be the most enjoyable Irregulars record in a long while and he could just be right.
Dai Jeffries
Artists’ website: https://www.robbjohnson.co.uk/
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