What does it sound like?:
In case you weren’t paying attention, five years ago, the album ‘Bennett Wilson Poole’ earned this ‘supergroup’ the Americana UK Artist of the Year and was on many peoples Album of the Year list – including mine.
It was only ever meant to be a one-off but the resulting joyous gigs and the reaction to the album meant that the project was an itch which would not be scratched.
All three – Robin ‘Dreaming Spires’ Bennett, Danny ‘Champ’ Wilson and Tony ‘Starry Eyed & Laughing’ Poole – went off to do other things which included a fantastic Danny & The Champions of the World live album, from Spain, and a magnificent new SE&L album – and Covid, illness and stuff just got in the way. However, last year, the trio wrote some new songs and recorded them, with Tony Poole sprinkling his production-stardust all over them, as well as jangling his Rickenbacker 12-string all through them.
So, say hello to the second BWP album.
If you’re expecting that ‘difficult second album syndrome,’ forget it. If you’re expecting three wonderful songwriters to have kept their best stuff for their own projects, forget it. This is the dog’s danglies, the puppies privates, the dasdchund’s doobries of an album.
From the start of I Saw Love, as good a power-pop song as you could ever want, to the end of The Sea and the Shore, a beautiful plea for peace and harmony, this is a proper, grown up album, filled with love.
Highlights? You’re kidding, right? Catchy tunes, (Waiting For The Wave To Break, I Wanna Love You,) abound, Byrds and Searchers jangles, (Are You Ready to Serve, Tie Dye T-Shirt,) proliferate and gorgeous harmonies are everywhere. The production is superb and TP’s nods to the past greats are everywhere – playing ‘spot the chord and what’s the reference’ is a great game – but they don’t distract you from the whole, which is a stonkingly brilliant album.
What does it all *mean*?
It means that British music is alive and kicking.
It also means that my Album of the Year has a very early contender.
Goes well with…
A Spring sunset, sitting in the garden, sipping a glass of your favourite red, watching the birds in the trees and listening to the world slowly wind down, at the end of a working day. When that calming feeling of a job well done and the cares of the world slip from your shoulders, this will be your soundtrack.
Release Date:
1st April, 2023 – no, really.
Might suit people who like…
The Byrds, The Beatles, The Searchers, The Zombies, Love Affair, Starry Eyed & Laughing, Dreaming Spires, Grand Drive, Danny & The Champions of the World – well, you did ask.
This is indeed great. Should have a review up soon, too, @niallb. Will message when it’s up. Tony Poole a very friendly and decent dude, too. Plus, as an avowed Beatle phobe, his spot the reference, or TP bingo, had me re-appreciating the early mop-tops.
@retropath2 do you mean phile, not phobe?
Nope. Phobe. Ah, I see, I not he. The word “to” in front of the “an avowed etc” might have been clearer.
Aha!
I was playing the LP for the first (2nd thru to 7th) time yesterday and I agree with everything you said in your splendid review @niallb. It’s going to be a great album to better ISASBYE,DLIFA as album of the year IMHO. These guys are mining a rich seam of musical form (a terrible cliche but apt) in recent times.
Edit: I really love the sleeve artwork.
Anyone know what Danny’s brother Julian is up to these days? Like John Head in Shack, I often thought the less celebrated brother wrote some of the most interesting songs..
Retired?
Played keyboards for Sinead O’Conner, 2012/3. Cropped up on a Lumiere album, 2013. Last seen in 2021 on an Irish album by John Spillane’s Lapwing Nation, called 100 Snow White Horses, playing Hammond.
@Sewer—Robot
Thanks for the information, Niall..
Remarkable to think that I saw Starry Eyed play a week before my 19th birthday in October 1974, and Tony Poole is still at it – and in great form – a little short of half a century later. I’m off to the dodgers to catch up on this new BWP title, having loved the first one; thanks!
TP is also sharp as a tack. He’s amazing.
Got a couple of Grand Drive albums which I rather enjoyed so will give this a lis.
I have the album waiting to be played – hopefully tonight. Unfortunately these modern cars have no bloody CD players and as I got the album from their site it is not on my Amazon music. Loved the last one and as @niallb alluded to anyone not familiar with the Danny and the champs live album should check that out too.
TP and Ian Whitmore have done a few SEAL gigs of late..
Most recent being with Matt and Steven from Rain Parade,which was suitably groovy.
Tony was in fine form and I’m hoping that the promised full band for Rambling Roots revue delivers the goods..None more jangly !
Can’t wait.
My copy arrived this morning, since when it’s been 1968 all day, with flashes of the 70s. Top stuff.
Just listened through yesterday (marvellous accompaniment to gardening on a sunny day). Rather impressive songwriting and playing – loved all the little Byrds/west coast musical references and I’m sure I heard a smidge of Ticket to Ride somewhere in
there.
Just listening to it now. The jangly guitars are a given but the vocals are absolutely stunning – great garments lovely melodies – this album is going to get some serious air time