Barry Adamson – Back To The Cat

• 31st Mar 2008

A Jerry Fish And The Mudbug club unwinding in a sauna after an extensive tour, is the prowling, down tempo theatrical vibe that oozes out in ‘The Beaten Side Of Town’. It is a feel that stalks this ten-track forage, coming through in the tinkering piano touch and jaunty blues dabs. A funky slide is inserted in the explorative musical playground, ‘Spend A Little Time’.

Adamson’s vocals skip along contentedly, it is hard not to follow his laid back life summarizing and head nodding/shoulder swaying inducing accompaniments. It is a dusty, slightly gravel laden, laid back vocal style that would make you think of Baz as more symbolic of American perfection than a Super Bowl Ring. However, the fact that he hails from Moss Side, only makes his blues/jazz/funk fusion all the more captivating. ‘Shadow Of Death Hotel’ ups the tempo and soul, showing this evergreen muso at his sprightliest.

He has been accused of being a dated jazz revivalist and, as though to blow a horn in the face of these critics, Barry uses a haunting, slowly rattling introduction to embolden the horn touting jazz/blues meltdown of ‘Flight’. Immediately images of a cynical, ageing man turning his back and walking down a cold rainy street away from his mundane life, swirl around your mind in this wordless woe releaser. For contrast, a flighty folk vocal hold takes a friendly hold through ‘People’, as a swooning, theatrical pop element illuminates the thoughtfulness and contemplation. Adamson chips away at the walls of ignorance that obscures the light of fulfilment;

“People they are dumb, they whisper that they love you then detonate a bomb. And I’ve been this way before and now I opened the door; know what your thinking. And I’ve made up my mind; separate myself from the blame.Jump into the ocean and bathe my heart.”

There are certainly no signs of this seasoned performer getting stuck in a rut. He continues to explore emotions and feeling through music of many types.

Just because he chooses not to mouth off at anyone and everyone in view, it doesn’t mean that Barry Adamson cannot be classed as a Manchester legend.

www.centralcontrol.co.uk
Rating; 4/5