Fade to Gray
David Gray's landmark album, White Ladder, was released twice. In 1998, it was the home-recorded, self-funded work of a little-known but respected singer songwriter who'd borrowed a drum machine off his mates in Orbital. On its reissue in 2001, following the massive "Is it ever off the radio?" success of single 'Babylon', it was the UK's number one record and the biggest-selling album in Ireland.
Before this, David Gray had released three albums. The first two were stark, bare-to-the-bone folk records, much championed by Donal Dineen's No Disco (the definitive version of the show?). The third, Sell, Sell, Sell, was his Dylan-goes-electric moment, the last album of his EMI deal, an angry kiss off to the music business. White Ladder, then, was the work of a man with nothing to prove, writing purely for his own pleasure, and it seemed to click with the populace.
Eleven years on, Gray found himself without a deal again, with millions of records sold. One could argue that he still had nothing to prove, but this time around he was recording in a studio he bought from Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics.
Opening track 'Fugitive' is the liveliest Gray has sounded in years, putting the gravel in his voicebox to good use on its bellowing choruses. On title track 'Draw the Line,' there are echos of Automatic-era REM and late Crowded House – big, populist melodies that never manage to drown the spark at the heart of the song. From there on in, it's a mixed bag. 'Nemesis' is the dinner party soundtrack wallpaper that we expect from Gray of late; plodding along, you find yourself urging the CD timer on before you zone out entirely.
And so it goes. 'Stella the Artist' is sharp, smart power pop; 'Transformation,' maudlin piano bar balladery. Gray sounds like a man divided between the lively, rootsy folk rock he can excel at, and the soft-focus, wine and candlelight, adult pop tunes he knows will keep the gold records on the wall.
One last thing – the press will no doubt tell you that 'Full Steam Ahead,' featuring Annie Lennox, is the duet of the album. Nonsense. 'Kathleen,' with Jolie Holland is miles better. Fact.
Comments