It was with a sense of slight trepidation that i introduced Mark Beaumont Thomas to a couple of my albums of the year. I’m pleased to say he liked them both…
Allison Russell – The Returner
Right now, this is the perfect ‘play something to get me in the mood for going out’ album, to kickstart your Christmas festivities. It is a joyous celebration of music, with funk, call-and-response gospel, disco and jazz all called in to support THAT voice, and what a voice it is – soulful, declamatory, urgent, Russell has stuff to say, but is never preachy.
This album represents an interesting departure from Russell’s previous solo album, Outside Child, from 2021, which was nominated for a Grammy in the Americana category. With its mono cover shot and largely sober and subdued reflections on life (even a track called Hy-Brasil was a ballad), that largely fitted its Grammy categorisation.
For The Returner, the cover bursts into glorious colour, perhaps a nod to her increasing activism, with Russell identifying as queer and “in the middle of the spectrum of orientation”. There are calls for inclusivity, in sexuality and in race, throughout the album, but all conveyed in a wonderful carnival spirit. The track ‘Eve Was Black’ (“haven’t you heard?”) is a great example of Russell’s approach. It goads and challenges misconceived white male attitudes towards Black women but the whole thing is done with great wit and supported by some fantastic music.
Every track earns its place on the album, with its flow of moods and tempos perfectly calibrated, and then the perfect finale, ‘Requiem’, a 6-minute gospel builder that sends you away suitably uplifted.
Our Man in the Field – Gold on the Horizon
What a great moniker Our Man in the Field is, that of UK-based singer/songwriter Alex Ellis. With its connotations of a reporter on the front line, Ellis throughout this album confronts life’s dilemmas head-on. However, these are not the despatches of a tabloid sensationalist, more in the style of carefully considered reflections from an experienced broadsheet journalist.
This is his second album, following up 2020 release The Company of Strangers and his vocal delivery has matured and developed from that first album. All is delivered in an Americana style, complete with steel guitar, fiddle and the gentle patter of drums. It takes a few listens for the tunes to emerge fully, as the style doesn’t deviate that wildly throughout, but once they do, there is much to savour. Singles ‘How Long’ and ‘Last Dance’ along with other tracks such as ‘Go Easy’ and ‘L’Etranger’ have great, catchy choruses and Ellis’s mournful voice conveys real emotion in these personal despatches. Beautifully produced by Portland Oregon legendary producer Tucker Martine, Ellis is clearly attracting some significant notice, and with due cause.
You can imagine these songs coming over brilliantly live and he is out on a short UK tour in Feb 2024 at some fairly intimate venues, so he will be well worth catching I reckon.
