SLAID CLEAVES —EVERYTHING YOU LOVE WILL BE TAKEN AWAY...(Music Road Records)

[Maurice Hope]

www.slaid.com
Co-produced by Gurf Morlix, this is Slaid Cleaves first album in quite some time (regards songs from his own hand, 2004 and his album, Wishbones) — and, like with all his other records the wait has been worth it. With regulars Rick Richards, Charles Arthur, Billy Harvey, Michael O’Connor and of course, Gurf himself aided by guest slots from Gene Elders and vocalist Trish Murphy Cleaves’ songs are as sharp as ever. Hence, the music races out of the chute in exciting fashion. His worth could not be better illustrated than on ‘Hard To Believe’ (possessing the line, ‘listening to a Haggard song you can put your blue collar on’ it excites me like his earlier work on Rounder records) the shuffling, fiddle laced ‘Green Mountains And Me’ plus, the foreboding and quite sublime, ‘Twistin’. Now it is something else. Containing a Peter Case bluesy edge it speaks in chilling terms of a public hanging, and such is Cleaves’ worth as a story-teller both writing and singing ’em it is enough to set the hairs on the back of your neck on end given half a chance. Of a greater blues feel Ray Bonneville’s ‘Run, Jolee Run’ featuring Wurlitzer (Arthur), resonator guitar (Morlix), bass (Stewart Meyers) and Brian Jones on drums digs deeper into the soul of the listener than most songs.
Like with previous albums it is made up of songs that both click on first hearing and sleepers. ‘Black T-Shirt’ a co-write with semi-regular songwriting partner, Rod Picott and the shuffling, mandolin aided ‘Tumbleweed Stew’ additions to those already noted being of the former. Sleepers, the kind of songs that soak into the mind of the listener with every listen and likely to become huge lasting favourites as the appreciative level soar. ‘Beautiful Thing’ that covers some aspects of war is a truly wonderful creation, and with that winning lilting melody, Elders’ classy fiddle and all-round musicianship that accompanies it throughout has Cleaves in the kind of form that sets him apart from the crowd. Morlix of course has a big say, and as before ensures that less often as not means more! Maybe not his best ever album, but it nevertheless a fine example of his worth as an artist. Unlike many acts he repeatedly steps up to the mark to produce the goods.
Maurice Hope