So what to make of Darryl's new album? Firstly its more akin to Walking in Shadows than Freshly Dug,the title track burst from the speakers with both the drive of the Stooges and the controlled feedback of Baxters era Airplane..Darryl adopts truly Morrisonesque phrasing,lyrically it is an expression of reflection [All the ghosts etc] and freedom [I'll take you where the action is/where the money flows] and freed from the Joycean wordplay of yore the lyrics are simply a complement to the melody rather than the bedrock from which musical ideas flow...its as refreshing as hearing Roadhouse Blues after The Soft Parade..Soul beats mystery , Darryl knows this as well as anyone...his belief in "ambiguous concentration" is never better illustrated than on this opener..a cracking start to any album..Freedom Roads starts in almost 1972 ELO  territory,no not the Lynne sap material but the glorious Roy Wood material that is exactly what the Beatles would have become had they not met Klein..interweaving guitars , a scattershot snap from the riser and then Darryl enters..vocally stronger than anytime since..well the earliest Colectomatic sessions, again another song of freedom but this time an exhultation to living life not only in the fast lane but also just for today..the unexpected ride section contains the sublime couplet  "angels come and angels go,angels fly and angels know!" sung with a passion that I've nary heard Daryl exhibit in the past..accompanied by a slightly discordant yet magnificently understated organ line that weaves in and out then goes without so much as a by your leave,at which point Darryl exhorts us to "live like there's no tomorrow" whilst an almost Spectorian wall of noise carries one away with Darryls dreams until the all too sudden fade...Some Kind of Contender has a magnificent acoustic introduction redolent of prepo Dylan circe 65 ..."Didn't you USED to be somebody?" echoes the dismissiveness of Positively 4th Street and Darryl truly lays bare the failings of his own Mr Jones..I truly pity the poor guy this one is directed at..magnificent drum patterns under pin the lyrics which by the penultimate verse  adopt an almost  sympathetic air..that is until the climax where the "sha la ..didn't YOU used to be somebody?" really bites...true rock poetry and delivered with an almost casual air by Darryl who's comfortablilty with this material is a joy to behold..the mid 60's Dylan ghost hovers over I'll Miss You Tonight..if ever there was a more perfect example of Dylanesque Rock then it has eluded me..beautiful guitar passages,a walking bass,perfect delivery from Darryl..and no one can sing "ani-malll!" like Darryl..there are some truly tender moments on this track,"like a heartbeat thats out of time" lyrics don't get much better than this...I wish I could upload this track and send it to everyone,not only is it Darryls finest recording in years its also one of my favourite recordings by anyone this year..Keep Movin' the Beat is everything its title suggests it could be.."existential angels"...abound,and the driving block chords really enhance what is essentially a bar room romp and none too shabby for all that..again those expecting a series of "escalding,hycid Swaiin bitches" will be bemused .....but this is Rock and Roll..so get hip and kick out the jams,Motherfuckers...Brand New Day echoes the title track in delivery both musically and vocal..."Are YOU ready for a brand new day?" is not so much a question as a warning...The Black Rose of TraLi is my personal fave track ..not that that infers anything regarding quality but simply personal preferance..acoustic guitars and Darryls slightly echoed vocal calls to mind the Sunshine Superman of yore,a beautiful song with a lyric that reads like an elizabethan tone poem delivered with the fragility of a butterfly's wing caught upon a strong wind,waver,motion,subtlety ..its hard to associate this with the pen that was so dismissive in Some Kind of Contender..then again Darryl never ceases to surprise...Eyes of Sapphire is the nearest we get to Darryl of FD or even Set..hidden winks and wordplay ..."she's got love.....for sale!" ..this chick may have a heart of desire but she's as cold as ice ....The Seas of Avalon is the "lightest" production on the album...Darryl again adopts his best Zimmy mannerisms and manages to make "ma gi ca lly"....a four syllable word with an ease built from confidence, infact his self confidence is  almost blase...a lovely tale of loss,desire,regret and love enveloped in a semi acoustic charm ,strangely affecting at first out of step with what has gone before but on reflection a natural exhibition of Darryls eclectism...things return true to form with I'm In Love With A Girl Like You..this time the ghost is of the late,great Jim Carroll...again Darryl comes up with both the lyrical and vocal goods,the band almost seem at odds with themselves at times but its dis-harmony and dischord just add to the un natural beauty of the song...so in summation..All The Ghosts of Rock and Roll is possibly Darryls purest rock album to date,its not dripping with psychedelic word play and puns but it is full of truly joyous rock and roll..to hear it in its natural element..the rock bars of Berlin or London would add another level to its brilliance,I unreservedly recommend it ,both as an introduction to Darryl and as a great kick arse rock album.
                            Read more...