Robin Trower – Shine
That the Godfather of Tone, Robin Trower, is in the midst of a late period burst of creativity can be underlined by the release of eight studio albums across the last ten years.
There’s also been a recent double helping of live releases to enjoy – the 50th Anniversary Edition of Robin Trower Live is an extended upgrade on the 1976 original, while this year’s One Moment In Time : Live In The USA proves the octogenarian Strat-meister still has the performance chops.
The latest in that prolific studio line of albums is Shine, whose title acts as positive beacon in the darker times (most of the songs carry an intentionally positive, lyrical trait).
Trower, who also handles bass and production duties, is again joined by his tried & trusted bandmates Richard Watts (lead vocals & live bassist) and Chris Taggart (drums).
Woozy, mid-tempo opener 'The Missing Piece' has Robin Trower pulling in the listener immediately with his gorgeous, overdriven Strat sound.
The other appealing factor is the gravelly vocal style provided by Richard Watt, which acts as the ideal counterpoint.
The title track, which segues directly off the opener, carries a similarly relaxed vibe but introduces judicious use of the Univibe, reminiscent of Robin Trower’s high watermark Bridge Of Sighs period.
Trower also stretches out a little on this number.
Richard Watts then contributes a fine vocal part to the sparse intro of 'Love By Any Other Name,' which develops into a slower, bluesy highlight. The song benefits further by the use of some clever dynamics and an outstanding wah-wah solo in the outro.
'Live Your Time' is a funkier number with a relaxed vibe (an album trait) and a memorable chorus (it also features an effective and unexpected chord structure).
Drummer Chris Taggart seems to revel in these funkier vibed moments, although he is rock-solid throughout the album.
'Faith' offers up both a gorgeous melody line and a laid-back, summery feel.
Robin Trower shows himself to be the master of restraint on this concise number (all but the final track average out at three-and-a-half minutes) while Richard Watt’s impressive vocal makes this number another highlight.
'Driving On Through,' featuring Robin Trower on lead vocals, has a slightly hypnotic ZZ Top feel while the spacey arrangement allows Trower’s solo burst to float above.
Another different vocal leads 'Truth,' where a soulful female voice adds effective, soulful contrast to the otherwise similarly toned album.
'The Race' includes a relatively complex funk riff. Robin Trower utilises the wah-wah again in the intro, and the Univibe is also in the mix to great effect.
Following number, and penultimate song, 'Without You,' is another mid-tempo number with a pleasing melody line. Again, Trower’s burst of solo parts don’t overstay their welcome.
Final song, the six-and-a-half minute 'It’s Not Time,' harks back to the Long Misty Days of Robin Trower’s classic 70s era.
The only real down tempo number on the album, the extended length gives Trower the platform to stretch out with some effective guitar parts in a woozy setting (it’s also further evidence of the meticulous detail given to the production of the album throughout).
A standout number, it stands comparison with the best of Robin Trower’s career.
This is yet another good album from the 21st century Robin Trower.
He sticks to a formula and does it very well (he also clearly writes with Richard Watts’ vocal style and phrasing in mind) but if there is a gripe it’s that very formula, which contains more than its fair share of mid-tempo ingredients.
The inclusion of one or two up-tempo numbers would provide more contrast and break up the one dimensionality, but you can’t fault the songwriting or performances, which are top-notch throughout.
Fifty-three years on from debut solo album Twice Removed From Yesterday and more than two dozen studio offerings later (plus a number of significant collaborations including with Jack Bruce and, most recently, Sari Schorr), Robin Trower can still, indeed, Shine.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
There’s also been a recent double helping of live releases to enjoy – the 50th Anniversary Edition of Robin Trower Live is an extended upgrade on the 1976 original, while this year’s One Moment In Time : Live In The USA proves the octogenarian Strat-meister still has the performance chops.
The latest in that prolific studio line of albums is Shine, whose title acts as positive beacon in the darker times (most of the songs carry an intentionally positive, lyrical trait).
Trower, who also handles bass and production duties, is again joined by his tried & trusted bandmates Richard Watts (lead vocals & live bassist) and Chris Taggart (drums).
Woozy, mid-tempo opener 'The Missing Piece' has Robin Trower pulling in the listener immediately with his gorgeous, overdriven Strat sound.
The other appealing factor is the gravelly vocal style provided by Richard Watt, which acts as the ideal counterpoint.
The title track, which segues directly off the opener, carries a similarly relaxed vibe but introduces judicious use of the Univibe, reminiscent of Robin Trower’s high watermark Bridge Of Sighs period.
Trower also stretches out a little on this number.
Richard Watts then contributes a fine vocal part to the sparse intro of 'Love By Any Other Name,' which develops into a slower, bluesy highlight. The song benefits further by the use of some clever dynamics and an outstanding wah-wah solo in the outro.
'Live Your Time' is a funkier number with a relaxed vibe (an album trait) and a memorable chorus (it also features an effective and unexpected chord structure).
Drummer Chris Taggart seems to revel in these funkier vibed moments, although he is rock-solid throughout the album.
'Faith' offers up both a gorgeous melody line and a laid-back, summery feel.
Robin Trower shows himself to be the master of restraint on this concise number (all but the final track average out at three-and-a-half minutes) while Richard Watt’s impressive vocal makes this number another highlight.
'Driving On Through,' featuring Robin Trower on lead vocals, has a slightly hypnotic ZZ Top feel while the spacey arrangement allows Trower’s solo burst to float above.
Another different vocal leads 'Truth,' where a soulful female voice adds effective, soulful contrast to the otherwise similarly toned album.
'The Race' includes a relatively complex funk riff. Robin Trower utilises the wah-wah again in the intro, and the Univibe is also in the mix to great effect.
Following number, and penultimate song, 'Without You,' is another mid-tempo number with a pleasing melody line. Again, Trower’s burst of solo parts don’t overstay their welcome.
Final song, the six-and-a-half minute 'It’s Not Time,' harks back to the Long Misty Days of Robin Trower’s classic 70s era.
The only real down tempo number on the album, the extended length gives Trower the platform to stretch out with some effective guitar parts in a woozy setting (it’s also further evidence of the meticulous detail given to the production of the album throughout).
A standout number, it stands comparison with the best of Robin Trower’s career.
This is yet another good album from the 21st century Robin Trower.
He sticks to a formula and does it very well (he also clearly writes with Richard Watts’ vocal style and phrasing in mind) but if there is a gripe it’s that very formula, which contains more than its fair share of mid-tempo ingredients.
The inclusion of one or two up-tempo numbers would provide more contrast and break up the one dimensionality, but you can’t fault the songwriting or performances, which are top-notch throughout.
Fifty-three years on from debut solo album Twice Removed From Yesterday and more than two dozen studio offerings later (plus a number of significant collaborations including with Jack Bruce and, most recently, Sari Schorr), Robin Trower can still, indeed, Shine.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ