Search - Fernando Saunders :: I Will Break Your Fall

MUSIC FOR GROWN-UPS

Valerie Henshaw | Melbourne, Australia | 10/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first (and possibly the last) review I have attempted for Amazon. Because I am i) basically lazy and ii) overawed by the extent of the musical knowledge displayed by many reviewers. But I keep checking this album and it is so alone and friendless that I thought I ought to get off my rear end and give it the kudos I believe it deserves.



I had never heard of Fernando Saunders until early in 2007. Lou Reed was in Australia to perform his album Berlin, along with an all-star cast including Sharon Jones, Antony (of The Johnsons), and others, including Fernando, who has been playing bass with Reed since 1983. While here, he did a radio interview where he talked about this album and I had to go out and get it right away.



First, though, for those of you like me who aren't familiar with the name Fernando Saunders, his credits include playing with The Jeff Beck/Jan Hammer Group, Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Joan Baez, John McLaughlin /The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Pat Benatar, Kip Hanrahan, Heart and Marianne Faithfull. Not a bad CV! He has produced albums for Lou Reed and Marianne Faithfull and they both return the respect they obviously have for him by duetting with him on this album. Fernando has produced this album, written or co-written (with Bon Jovi collaborator George Karak) all but the two duets (Jagger/Richards' 'Backstreet Girl' & Lou Reeds's 'Baton Rouge'), and plays a multitude of instruments on each track - so this really is an individual tour-de-force. (Aside: is it only me who sees the cover as a dead ringer for that of the US release of Faithfull's 'Come My Way'?)



Like an album from Van Morrison or Ryan Adams, the songs on 'I Will Break Your Fall' have a comfortable, familiar sound to them. The melodies are strong - reminiscent of some of Annie Lennox' work. His songs are pretty without being 'nice', sweet without being saccharine, sexy without being lurid. It's not easy to pick "stand-out" tracks; all the songs combine strong elements of pop, r&b and soul in a skilful manner. The title track sees Fernando on vocals and backing himself on acoustic guitar, drums, Kydd cello and keyboards. In a gentler era, this would have had "hit" written all over it.



'Backstreet Girl' has Fernando replacing Evan Dando's vocal tracks with his own. He had produced some demos of Dando and Faithfull but felt this particular song didn't work. Both gladly gave him permission to effect the substitution. His ethereal voice contrasts well with the earthy tones of Marianne Faithfull. (Barenaked Ladies' Kevin Hearn features on piano on this track.) Similarly, on 'Baton Rouge', the sweetness of Fernando's voice carries the melody while Lou Reed's growl is relegated to a subservient role.



Two songs are presented in alternate versions: 'Lover' and 'All For You'. In both cases, the alternate versions were recorded in Iceland with pared-down arrangements. The quick latin beat of the Spanish guitar in 'All For You' is replaced by a slower piano. Similarly in 'Lover', Eythor Gunnarsson's piano replaces Pete Min's guitar solo. Both songs are very strong melodically and vocally so it's a case of you pays your money and you takes your choice.



There is a strong spiritual element present in 'Pain' and 'U Can't Go (By How Things Appear)'. The former is a plea for the plight of the homeless, poor and otherwise disenfranchised. Fernando's remedy - faith - may seem a bit simplistic but it is delivered so sincerely, it is hard to dismiss out of hand.



'I See The Light' reverentially borrows a line from Otis Redding's 'Dock Of The Bay', while Mark Johnson's soprano sax adds a gentle counter-point.



The two instrumental tracks may seem a bit out of place in the greater scheme of the album but they do serve to demonstrate his mastery of the bass guitar. 'Live In Spain' is both a title and a description and sees Fernando in a jazzy improvisational duel with drummer J.T. Lewis (another who has played with Reed). 'Bass Talk' has two percussionists adding to the cool latin flavour.



This album is 75 minutes spent with a gentle man who really believes what he speaks of. If you like the sexy, soulfulness of a Marvin Gaye or an Al Green, I think you may well enjoy Fernando Saunders. Don't let him be a well-kept secret.

"