Blue Nation – The Ordinary People
2018’s The Kaftan Society, by Birmingham based trio Blue Nation, was a seriously solid, classic meets contemporary fusion of the band’s soul-rock blues sound; to the degree that it was their best album to date.
But the band have, across the last two and half years of recording, (releasing the Echoes EP in 2022 and Reflections EP earlier this year) pushed themselves and their sound even further, along with a discernible growth in songwriting craft.
All of which can be heard on the two aforementioend 4-track EPs and, now, new studio album The Ordinary People.
Indeed, so strong were Echoes and Reflections (shout out here to both Ben Brannelly & Oli Jefferson, who were behind the kits for each respective EP) that all eight tracks feature, along with five others, including recent single 'Time is a Thief.'
The results, in tandem with a great production, mix and guidance from Grammy award winning sound engineer Trevor Gibson, reflect singer-guitarist Neil Murdoch’s quote that the goal was to "take the songs to the next level," which clearly included the consideration afforded to real life lyricism (songs for the everyman/ everywoman; hence the album’s title).
The album opens as the Reflections EP ended, with the soul-bluesy light and post-grunge shade of 'Hand Me Down,' which sports both a purposeful chorus and a funkier, bass plucking middle 8 (the band showcase a nice sense of dynamics here).
Following number 'Every Single Time' has an infectious pop-charm mixed within its retro, soul-bluesy sound.
One of many real-life lyric numbers (coming out the other side of an abusive relationship), the song also wins out by being kept fairly simple in arrangement, bolstered by nifty drum work/ fills.
The moody, thick-riffed, heavy soul of 'I Feel Low' carries an even deeper lyric about a friend who crossed a line (to the degree that said friendship was lost); the results are a vocal and lyrical catharsis for Neil Murdoch, which adds to the gravitas of the song. Kudos too for the tight, rhythmic groove that drives this song along.
The band then explore the depths of the human experience with poignant, up-tempo number 'Time is a Thief.'
The song, featuring a soulfully focussed vocal from Neil Murdoch and complementary harmonies from bassist Luke Weston (Murdoch & Weston’s dovetailing vocality is an integral part of the band’s sound), faces the reality of a loved one battling a life-threatening illness, with a narrative running from fear and despair to acceptance and relief.
But the band have, across the last two and half years of recording, (releasing the Echoes EP in 2022 and Reflections EP earlier this year) pushed themselves and their sound even further, along with a discernible growth in songwriting craft.
All of which can be heard on the two aforementioend 4-track EPs and, now, new studio album The Ordinary People.
Indeed, so strong were Echoes and Reflections (shout out here to both Ben Brannelly & Oli Jefferson, who were behind the kits for each respective EP) that all eight tracks feature, along with five others, including recent single 'Time is a Thief.'
The results, in tandem with a great production, mix and guidance from Grammy award winning sound engineer Trevor Gibson, reflect singer-guitarist Neil Murdoch’s quote that the goal was to "take the songs to the next level," which clearly included the consideration afforded to real life lyricism (songs for the everyman/ everywoman; hence the album’s title).
The album opens as the Reflections EP ended, with the soul-bluesy light and post-grunge shade of 'Hand Me Down,' which sports both a purposeful chorus and a funkier, bass plucking middle 8 (the band showcase a nice sense of dynamics here).
Following number 'Every Single Time' has an infectious pop-charm mixed within its retro, soul-bluesy sound.
One of many real-life lyric numbers (coming out the other side of an abusive relationship), the song also wins out by being kept fairly simple in arrangement, bolstered by nifty drum work/ fills.
The moody, thick-riffed, heavy soul of 'I Feel Low' carries an even deeper lyric about a friend who crossed a line (to the degree that said friendship was lost); the results are a vocal and lyrical catharsis for Neil Murdoch, which adds to the gravitas of the song. Kudos too for the tight, rhythmic groove that drives this song along.
The band then explore the depths of the human experience with poignant, up-tempo number 'Time is a Thief.'
The song, featuring a soulfully focussed vocal from Neil Murdoch and complementary harmonies from bassist Luke Weston (Murdoch & Weston’s dovetailing vocality is an integral part of the band’s sound), faces the reality of a loved one battling a life-threatening illness, with a narrative running from fear and despair to acceptance and relief.
The mid-tempo groove of 'Strangers' carries a late 60s/ early 70s vibe and a subtle hint of Cream.
The song also comes equipped with a melodic chorus that helps tell the tale of a relationship that has long since lost its lustre, yet continues, even when it probably shouldn’t.
Downtempo, Indie styled rock ballad 'Old Friends' carries both lyrical poignancy (comradeship and being there for someone) and subtle delicacy, the latter primarily through the harmonies and counter/ backing vocals from Messrs Murdoch & Weston.
The poignancy continues with 'Echoes,' a soulful, Indie-rock lament to a friend who has passed away.
Featuring a big chorus, bigger drums, slightly muted guitars and, again, excellent harmony/ call-and-answer vocals, the song’s true strength lies in its arrangement, where delicacy and weight continually swap places (another great example of the band’s sense of dynamics).
The downtempo acoustic opening of 'The Reason' gives way to a fuller-bodied, post grunge sonic, but interspersed with light and shade (edgy guitars and heavy grooves dovetailing with lighter harmony vocal passages).
The contrasting 'Once In My Life' is an Indie-pop plea for better times ("once in my life, I wanna feel the light").
Following number 'Come Back Home' is a similarly up-tempo affair that features bubbly bass lines from Luke Weston, a charmingly melodic chorus and a weightier finale.
The short but highly impacting 'Ordinary People' is the very definition of Blue Nation (that aforementioned soulful light and thick-riffed shad, here garnished with a heavyweight bridge), and what they embrace – their fans, friends, family and "the collective" of ordinary people.
'Run Straight Ahead,' which mixes acoustic & electric folk with soul-blues and Eastern/ Indian interjections, is the sort of song George Harrison or Crosby Stills & Nash could have come up with in the early seventies.
Neil Murdoch’s confessional solo number 'Worry' ("please save me from my nightmares, so I can return to my dreams") then closes out the album in delicate, acoustic fashion.
Just ordinary people perhaps, but an extraordinarily good band.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
The song also comes equipped with a melodic chorus that helps tell the tale of a relationship that has long since lost its lustre, yet continues, even when it probably shouldn’t.
Downtempo, Indie styled rock ballad 'Old Friends' carries both lyrical poignancy (comradeship and being there for someone) and subtle delicacy, the latter primarily through the harmonies and counter/ backing vocals from Messrs Murdoch & Weston.
The poignancy continues with 'Echoes,' a soulful, Indie-rock lament to a friend who has passed away.
Featuring a big chorus, bigger drums, slightly muted guitars and, again, excellent harmony/ call-and-answer vocals, the song’s true strength lies in its arrangement, where delicacy and weight continually swap places (another great example of the band’s sense of dynamics).
The downtempo acoustic opening of 'The Reason' gives way to a fuller-bodied, post grunge sonic, but interspersed with light and shade (edgy guitars and heavy grooves dovetailing with lighter harmony vocal passages).
The contrasting 'Once In My Life' is an Indie-pop plea for better times ("once in my life, I wanna feel the light").
Following number 'Come Back Home' is a similarly up-tempo affair that features bubbly bass lines from Luke Weston, a charmingly melodic chorus and a weightier finale.
The short but highly impacting 'Ordinary People' is the very definition of Blue Nation (that aforementioned soulful light and thick-riffed shad, here garnished with a heavyweight bridge), and what they embrace – their fans, friends, family and "the collective" of ordinary people.
'Run Straight Ahead,' which mixes acoustic & electric folk with soul-blues and Eastern/ Indian interjections, is the sort of song George Harrison or Crosby Stills & Nash could have come up with in the early seventies.
Neil Murdoch’s confessional solo number 'Worry' ("please save me from my nightmares, so I can return to my dreams") then closes out the album in delicate, acoustic fashion.
Just ordinary people perhaps, but an extraordinarily good band.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ