Hamish Anderson – Electric
This is a study of an artist with musical density, texture & character with songs that get out of the startling gate with good precision & originality but seem to struggle toward the finish line. Hamish Anderson (guitar/vocals) rests comfortably on many musical styles from the past & has a good rock voice. There are accessible tunes & he leads a tight band — maybe too tight & that’s where this rock n’ roll gets its commonality. “Stir Crazy,” is a cliched title but it’s wonderfully energetic with a faithful guitar run stuck in a vintage Adam & the Ants percussive snap. The music offers plenty of instrumental jam room for musicians.
12 currents are running through Electric (Drops Oct 11/Independent/46:19) produced by Hamish with David Davis. The LP has sparkling possibilities that poke their heads through the brilliance & the mediocrity. Yes, both exist side by side. (“Sweet Dreams” is laborious). But Hamish knows his stuff & he’s consistent. Maybe it’s the production that is the blemish & not the material. The instrumentality has clarity & the drums (Peter Marin) are well recorded (“So Alive”) & exciting.
But there’s too much 70s production value & there should be more R&R spirit instead of technology. The songs are never weak, they have a good base but could use more clever words. “You’re Mine” is an early single performed admirably but well within the genre recipe. It breaks no new ground. But it passes muster.
“Late In the Evening” is a performance that’s well arranged & presented. But lyrically? “Late in the evening I’m gonna make you mine…” is fairly pedestrian. There’s an audience for this music — but this 3rd LP for the Australian blues guitarist Hamish Anderson is far too good a musician to allow the ordinary to possess his work.
“Steal Away,” another cliched title is well performed. Good groove. The vocals are versatile but not distinctive. Many singers have this tonality, but Hamish has a meticulous style. He weaves his vocals through his tasteful guitar maze. “Pain” is also good but stuck in the muck of prog-pop similar to Tony Carey’s Planet P (“Pink World” LP) era gimmicks. I must emphasize that Hamish is a worthy musician trying to shape something fresh from old clay. The strongest tune is a cover. Ron Davies’ “It Ain’t Easy,” also covered by the late English blues singer Long John Baldry. Hamish is exemplary on this.
I’m not a fan of cartoony covers. It doesn’t support the quality of the music. Hamish deserves better.
Highlights – “You’re Mine,” “Late In the Evening,” “Stir Crazy,” “So Alive,” “Steal Away,” “It Ain’t Easy” & “Everybody.”
Musicians – Lauren Stockner (bass), Jerry Borge (piano/organ/Wurlitzer/mellotron), Jessy Greene (strings) & Matthew Pynn (pedal steel).
Color image courtesy of Michael Ashley & cover photo by Emma Gillett. CD @ https://www.hamishandersonmusic.com/