Morton
Valence – Left (Bastard Recordings)
CD/DL
Out Now
The ‘urban Country’ quintet
release their third album.
Starting an album with a seven
and a half minute opus about the fall from grace of a celebrity to almost death
may not seem what you would expect, but then again the whole album isn’t. Left is a unique album with tales of death,
murder, transvestites and prison convicts set to easy listening instrumentation
which leads you in harmlessly and spits you out tattered and torn.
Morton Valence clearly believe
is taking no prisoners. Album opener The
Day I Went To Sleep For 10 Years, despite its tumble down the ladder of life, unveils
the joys of everyday bliss with some of the finest lyrics you will hear in a
while. And, it’s the lyrics that pay a
huge part in the success of the album.
Not for a long time has an album so descriptive and poetic been heard by
these ears. It’s like having one of the World’s
greatest poets set to music.
With the gentile vocal style of
Robert ‘Hacker’ Jessett and the angelic tones of Anne Gilpin, Left glides
through a modern-day lifecycle with ease and majesticity and the ability to
suck you in and be completely engaged.
Single, Clouds drifts along wistfully
with both vocalists taking main stage, and the wordplay and couplets on Boyfriend
On Remand are quite brilliant. Midway
through the album there’s a cringe as fears of a Ray Davies lawsuit are obvious
– it’s only after a glimpse at the track listing that the title The Return Of
Lola is apparent and the realisation that the Kink should be completely and
utterly blown away by the tribute.
Special note also to Old Punks
Part 1 which sounds like the Nouvelle Vague take on the Dead Kennedys’ Too
Drunk To Fuck, a punk song set to a bossa-nova beat. Part 2 blasts forty-something seconds of a
pure punk version through unsuspecting ears.
The Gilpin led Annie McFall and it’s vocals from the grave is also
magical.
Left is an album that needs to
be heard and not simply talked about. Its
unassuming cover artwork hides it away from the pack, but its content leads the
way.
9/10
Links
Bastard Recordings
Morton Valence website
Morton Valence on Twitter
9/10
Links
Bastard Recordings
Morton Valence website
Morton Valence on Twitter
Published on Louder Than War 28/08/14 - here
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