Album Notes

Review by Jim Bennett,editor Poetry Kit:

This CD contains poems written and read by Les Merton and set to music by The Moontones. For a poetry put to music album to be successful, you have to have some great poetry being read by someone who can bring the best out of it and lay it bare before the listener and musicians who can interpret the mood of the poems and be sympathetic to the rhythm and cadences of the language being used. On Beat Reality Les Merton brings the very best from his poems and the band compliment it beautifully.

For me the outstanding track is the title track, which bears lots of repeated listening. The other tracks all have a lot to recommend them, not least the Brian Eno inspired ambience some of them create. As an introduction to Les Merton and his poetry this is an excellent sampler containing some very strong work including Smoke Rings and Biography of a Generation.

Review by Kate Edwards, REACH magazine:

Les Merton's soft Cornish voice blends beautifully with the mellow and engaging music of the Moontones. His lyrics are haunting and challenging, but also social comment, highlighting much that is wrong with our society today, but without condemnation, seeming to understand why some things are as they are. A no holds barred, almost impersonal commentary, but with a depth of feeling behind it. It is as though Les has taken a step back in order to record the scenes and people he describes more clearly, with an almost eerie clarity and poetic insight. The title poem, 'Beat Reality' is a compelling and perceptive description of what Beat Reality is, or can be. A sadness, almost despair, filters through the words and music in many of the lyrics; in others, a strong affirmation of the human spirit. The music is often moody and plaintive, evoking all the lost, lonely places and people Les conjures with his words, then changing to a more upbeat rhythm, catching the nuance and essence of his voice. Compelling and perceptive with its insights into other worlds and lives. Buy the CD, and step outside, or inside, yourself while it plays.

Review by Martin Holroyd, editor, Poetry Monthly:

Beat Reality (Les Merton and the Moontones) is a neat
and well produced CD of poems with specially composed
music, ‘and it’s different’, nothing like the
slugging, analogous beat of rap, these poems are
inspired, sometimes gentle, once removed thoughts all
people with a soul have. There are harsh moments that
provide a contrast, but it’s not a constant ramming of
social/political grudge, but an almost nostalgic visit
to what was and what might have been. The Moontones
provide some really interesting backing and is
(whoever the musical director is) also inspired. If
you have a leaning toward ‘Beat poetry’ you’ll love
this. I particularly loved the track ‘Ray’, it does
remind me of someone I used to know.