‘Got danger in the home, that much is clear’.
Fresh from the armoury of our very own Rock ‘n Roll wizard, Guy Bellamy, I bring you the ever so dreamy Unquiet Nights, who come to us from Ireland and Italy to share their work, their very heart and soul, I would say. Off we go with their third album ‘Seasons in Exile’ and we get a chance to be open and receptive to music that is outside of our normal circle. This is an opportunity to apply a wider lens where we can discover more, learn more and appreciate more.
Luke Mathers provides us with the smooth and sophisticated vocal sounds, oh my…swoon…. faint … the voice of a storyteller, calm and collected. The band completed by Rodger Firmin on drums and Francesco Piciucchi on bass and keyboards, form a rich and robust cohort, oozing drama but not overly dramatic.
The single ‘Diamond and the Missing Son’ instantly gives me Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid vibes, even Bonnie and Clyde without the murderous rampage. It is a quality track; there is a romanticism, the craquelure evident yet manifesting a fragility that underpins the record. There is resilience within that fragility, there is scope and space for fulfilment and satisfaction.
Having graduated from the Santana school of frets, you get the unruffled, laid-back sound that eases your mind, it is medicinal and curative, the perfect start to the new year.
‘I’m making bets that I shouldn’t be making’ from ‘Sting in the Tail’ shows us that these words are impactive, and probably a huge part of our daily lives, constantly hustling, trying to do our best.
The foot stomping rhythm of ‘You Are My Wilderness’ reinforces the idea that ‘someday what’s lost can still be won’ it gives us strength for the time to come, the things about to unfold and the future that will show itself. I love the way that ‘High Conviction Play’ ends, departing quietly, as if there is no more left to say.
A record that is momentous in its production, utterly charming in its delivery and eminently influential and inspirational in galvanising and maintaining audience interest and attention.
I cannot write this piece without mentioning Mr Bellamy, through his hard work, perseverance, and integrity to music, he continues to support the scene unequivocally and multilaterally, his bubbling cauldron of creatives is illuminating and sparkling. He remains an unwavering support network, uninhibited by trends, unfathomed by fashion, the ideal companion on these unquiet nights.
Azra Pathan
Unquiet Nights – Seasons in Exile out now.