Search - Hobotalk :: Beauty in Madness

Gentle Folk-Rock From Scotland!

Ian Creamer | Dublin,Ireland | 09/29/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It must be the weather in Scotland that makes so many groups(Blue Nile,White Buffalo,etc)sound thoroughly depressed!Yet Hobotalk like so many of these groups manage to be excellent song-writers-maybe it's because they stay in strumming guitars on those rainy days. This is the debut album from Hobotalk and I have to say it's a very accomplished one at that.The c.d. came out last spring and it recieved quite a few rave reviews.Unfortunately these reviews haven't been reflected in the album sales.I feel many people are missing out on one of the debut c.d.'s of the year.The strength of this c.d. is in it's excellent song-writing,crisp production,a singer with a voice that harks back to the era of James Taylor,et al,of the early seventies.The mood of the music is captured by excellent musicianship. Basically the c.d. is a gentle adult folk/blues album.The songs are all pretty,mellow-sounding tunes and none of the songs go at a tempo that sets the pulse going 200 beats per minute.It's the perfect soundtrack for those rainy winter's nights or maybe for the new couple enjoying a romantic night in! Many of the songs have a country feel.In fact this c.d. is closer to Americana than these Celtic Lands-They even refer to 'trailer parks' for God sake.The first 5 songs are really good.Gentle beginnings with an acoustic guitar.Gently the band get into full flow as the song gathers a very slow momentum.Then it usually involves a soaring,catchy chorus:often with harmonies to add that extra touch to all the 'heartbreak' that seems to be going on.The only harrowing moment in the first 5 songs occurs in the excellent track 5 'Dime',when the singer gives us the terrible line-'Since we got the satellite dish,we ain't even shared a kiss'.That relationship sounds pretty doomed to me,because I've got satellite and it just isn't that riveting!The next song is very bluesy,with blues guitar,foot-tapped rhythm before another excellent chorus.Then add in some Harmonium and bass for the rest of the 5 minute track and you really wonder how this c.d. has been ignored for so long.The next song even sounds like early Garth Brooks of 'No Fences' era.I think even Garth himself would be proud to write such a song.The harmony in the chorus is just gorgeous-it's the only word I can use to describe it!In fact it's better than anything Mr. Brooks has ever written!Track 8 'Never Said When' is a very folky song-almost like The Waterboys during their 'Fisherman's Blues' phase.Unfortunately it's not as good,and is probably the weakest song on the c.d.Double misfortune is that it's also the c.d.'s longest track.The downer doesn't last long as the title track is undoubtedly a real highlight.Guitar,piano,harmonium and mellotron dominate instrumentally.It's a very sad song and the vocalist Marc Piley sings it with the required amount of angst quite beautifully.The last song is definitely one for all James Taylor fans.Even if you don't like gentle,slow-paced music,I do think this c.d. is worth taking a chance on-the songs are just very good.But the best thing about this c.d. is the lasting quality of the music.I usually get pretty bored with c.d.'s after a few listens-but I haven't got sick of this one 6 months after purchasing it."