VILLIERS AND THE VILLAINS – Songs Of Love And Fate (own label TVATV0915)

Songs Of Love And FateSongs Of Love And Fate is the second album from Northern Irish singer and songwriter Tony Villiers and the title of his debut, Thin Wild Mercury, gives you a clue as to where he’s coming from.

There are some great songs on this album. Tony wrote all the material and at his best he is brilliant but I have to say now that there are also some routine 12-bar blues amongst the diamonds. The first of the jewels is the opener, ‘Devil And Deep Blue Sea’. It also follows the blues pattern but it is blessed with a witty lyric and a solid backing from Tony’s six-piece band – I’m guessing it’s Paul Meehan playing the acoustic guitar lead. ‘Dear Mama’ is another rocking 12-bar blues but the lyrics hide the familiar story of the po’ boy languishing in the jailhouse in a clever way.

‘Big Old Dancin’ Bear Blues’ breaks the pattern and playfully nods to Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and possibly Ray Lamontagne and pinches from The Beatles. It’s a great song but, by now, we have to admit that there’s a lot of Dylan in Tony Villiers. ‘Swingin’ Into The Sunshine’ shrugs that off and, for me, rates as the best song on the album simply because Tony has struck out in a different direction. ‘Last Night’ has a hint of Canned Heat about it and ‘Ramblin’ Man’ name-checks Woody Guthrie and Ledbelly.

I described some of the 12-bars as “routine” and I stand by that but they really rock and concealed in some of them are some clever lyrical twists. I like this album but the spirit of Bob Dylan is hovering over Tony’s shoulder – I’m a life-long fan so I don’t mind that much but Tony needs to exorcise this ghost.

Dai Jeffries

Artist’s website: http://tonyvilliers.com/

‘Big Old Dancin’ Bear Blues’ live:

We all give our spare time to run folking.com. Our aim has always been to keep folking a free service for our visitors, artists, PR agencies and tour promoters. If you wish help out and donate something (running costs currently funded by Paul Miles), please click the PayPal link below to send us a small one off payment or a monthly contribution.