White Ladder - David Gray > Reviews > Climb the White Ladder and Sail Away

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	Great lyrics, great melodies
Disadvantages:	None whatsoever

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

It's hard to believe that this guy has only been successful in Ireland and that this album is his fourth. It has already been a huge success so no need to wonder if it will catapult him in the limelight of minds of the masses, it's just a shame it took so long.

After a variety of record company wrangles, this album was finally released on Dave Matthews’ IHT label in Ireland and then on East West in Britain. It managed before this to sell 20,000 copies in the UK without any marketing or airplay.

The album itself is stunning and has something for everybody in it. In a departure from his usual acoustic guitar sounding albums, White Ladder has gone for the acoustic guitar and married the keyboards, which blend together to give beautiful pieces of music and lyrics. This marrying up of the guitar and keyboards is also due to the collaboration of Gray and Clune.

His songwriting ability was never in doubt so 'Please forgive me' if I say that the first track is a trance dance number which is melodic, and lyrical. If you're going to 'Babylon' stay in first and listen to this beautiful heartfelt love song with a blend of keyboard and guitar to get your juices flowing. 'This years love' has got to be one of the best tracks on the album along with the rehashed 'Say hello wave goodbye' (originally sung by Soft Cell in 1982).

David Grays voice is also brilliant and has been compared to a young Van Morrison (something, I imagine, he will be sick of now). It has that certain something, but you can't quite put your finger on what it is. No matter, he still has a fantastic voice.

I know, without a doubt, that this album will still be played in twenty years time and still be considered fresh and original. All the tracks on this album are memorable for one reason or another and it is the type of album you never tire of listening to. Sometimes I buy an album listen to it constantly for 3 months and then hardly ever play it again. This album, I bought over 8 months ago, and I still play it at least 3 times a week. Fantastic album, fantastic lyrics, and great melodies.