... I'm thinking Barry McGuire's powerful 1965 hit “Eve of Destruction” and one of my new favourite singers Tracey Curtis with her second album “Picture Postcards”
So who is Tracey Curtis? Apparently she is anarchic singer song writer who lives in Ammanford in South Wales (half an hour from ... Read review
Advantages: Fantastic po;itical, personal and domestic ongs Disadvantages: Might be hard to find as she's not a mainstream artist
Politics in music is a tricky thing to get right. Saint Bono of Hewson with his hypocritical ramblings of stop world debt but I'll sue you for stealing my hat could put you off political music for life but luckily when its done right it is thought provoking and sublime. I'm thinking Barry McGuire's powerful 1965 hit “Eve of Destruction” and one of my new favourite singers Tracey Curtis with her second album “Picture Postcards”
So who ... ...who lives in Ammanford in South Wales (half an hour from the sea, just off the M4 according to her song “The John Peel song”. Before her solo career and motherhood she was a member of the late 80s, early 90s band Shelley's Children. I discovered her hen a friend of mine lent me the CD and I've become hooked. ever since then.
It is ironic one of Curtis's songs on the album is called “ I should Have Kept it Simple” as that is exactly ... more
Politics in music is a tricky thing to get right. Saint Bono of Hewson with his hypocritical ramblings of stop world debt but I'll sue you for stealing my hat could put you off political music for life but luckily when its done right it is thought provoking and sublime. I'm thinking Barry McGuire's powerful 1965 hit “Eve of Destruction” and one of my new favourite singers Tracey Curtis with her second album “Picture Postcards”
So who is Tracey Curtis? Apparently she is anarchic singer song writer who lives in Ammanford in South Wales (half an hour from the sea, just off the M4 according to her song “The John Peel song”. Before her solo career and motherhood she was a member of the late 80s, early 90s band Shelley's Children. I discovered her hen a friend of mine lent me the CD and I've become hooked. ever since then.
It is ironic one of Curtis's songs on the album is called “ I should Have Kept it Simple” as that is exactly what she does on “Picture Postcards”. It consists of 15 short songs (the longest is 3 minutes 44) simply sung whilst Curtis strums her acoustic guitar. The album could easily be busked in the street due to its simplicity. The songs are catchy, folky ballads with some great hooks and Curtis has a great way with story telling too. The songs are deceptively cherry considering some of the themes of the songs such as the death penalty, (If the Death Penalty Were an Olympic Sport) shell shock, (All the Girls Love a Soldior) Turkish political prisoners (Snow is Freedom|) and a history of the southern Welsh protest movement (Miners Against Fascism). When she's not standing up for the injustices of the world she's singing about domestic life with her children which shows a softer side to this anarchist songbird. Add to the mix a touch of comedy to make a winning combination. . Fans of Frank Turner and Billy Bragg would probably appreciate Curtis's work. Vocally she has a very warm, pretty, expressive voice that is very easy on the ear. She has a slight regional twang, imagine the late great Kristy Mccoll with just a hint of Joni Mitchell's trill and you get Tracey Curtis.
The inlay is actually quite interesting to read as Curtis explains the inspiration for each of the songs on the album.
The quality of he album is fairly consistent but, as always there are some songs that stand out for me. Unfortunately the opener “Snow is Freedom is one of the weaker tracks on the album. The song about Turkish political prisoners remembering a snowfall is very earnest and the imagery is very nice but I find the rhythm of the song and the lyrics slightly awkward.
“If The Death Penalty Were An Olympic Sport” is exactly what it says it is. Curtis recites the names of all the countries with the death penalty as the chorus then sings about the “medal winners” America, Iran and China in the verses. Its quite a hummable little tune and easy to sing along to. The death penalty and the methods by which it is carried out in the various countries has never sound so upbeat!
First prize for poignancy and probably my favourrite track on the album goes to the anti war ballad “All the Girls Love A Soldier”. This song about men's experiences in the first World War and after has an eery beauty to it. With quite a swaying rhythm. Lyrics such as “Shooting at men that I thought I would hate, enemy friend in the end looked the same, Scared wide eyes” and “All the girls love a soldier they say crying, shaking and wetting the bed”
ranks the song up there with “Blackadder Goes Forth” , Erich Maria Remarque;s “All Quiet on the Western Front and Wilfred Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est” to the sheer horror of life in the trenches in the First World War.
The other song I find particularly poignant is “The John Peel song” . This is a song told in letter form addressed to the late great John Peel admitting to procrastination to replying to a postcard by him so as not to be seen as too gushing or keen. Its based on a real postcard Peel sent Curtis three weeks before he died asking the question “Where is Ammanford “? and the letter she would have sent in reply if only he had survived just a few more weeks.
Political Leader's wrong doings are classic stuff of protest songs. Frank Turner attacked thatcher in “Thatcher Fu'ked the kids” whilst Curtis uses the infamous George double ya in “Letter to Mt Bush” . The song is cleverly written as a letter from a child in Iraq, Afghanistan or any other country occupied by America and is a plea for real help and not the so called help that we are giving them. The refrain is powerful “Thank you for your Letter, Mr Bush will take your views on board”
“Miners Against Fascism” and “First riot” were written for a play about teenagers supporting the striking miners. “Miners against Fascism” is a breezy whiz through the protest movement in South Wales from supporting Conscientious Objectors in the first world War to Greenham Common and beyond. its perhaps the most complex song as it has backing vocals. “First Riot” is more downbeat and at first listen is one of the lesser tracks on the album, as it is less immediate than others. However on further listens this song about Curtis's first experience in a march and her dealings with heavy handed policemen is beautiful, plaintive and very personal. Her voice has a fragile quality to it.
Children can be so inquisitive and their questions so difficult to answer. “I should have Kept it Simple” is a song for all parents trying to explain everything and getting in a muddle. There's a very comic dance to this in her live performances that can be found on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM-XZXfwvPA&feature=player_embedded
It can be so easy to be self righteous about our shopping habits. I know i try to buy organic, Free range fair trade , environmentally friendly products and have boycotted Nestle for years! The “Vegan Police” is a light hearten dig at all of us that try their best to be an ethical consumer 9in this case Vegan living) but fail occasionally.
Bristol Museum appeals to the Museum Attended/ Cathedral Steward in me. me , as its a conic ditty about mischief making in Bristol Museum and the guards response!
Juxtaposed with the political and the humerous are the two songs dedicated to two of her daughters. May is a simple song dedicated to the wonder of a new child. Its simple and gorgeous. “Rosa's Happy Song” is an Its an ode to the innocent of childhoods and brings the album to a nice happy ending with its cherry, upbeat feel with its refrain from “letter to Mr Bush”.
It is nice to discover an unfamiliar artist and Tracey Curtis is a joy to listen o. i would highly recommend if you like your music thought provoking but upbeat and folky.
