Wesley Stace – One Last Heist
Earlier in his career, Wesley Stace was an edgier singer-songwriter with some creative approaches to his repertoire. However, this new set, while well-recorded & showcased in a realm similar to Canada’s award-winning Alfie Zappacosta. Alfie, who started as an intense, evocative rocker on his first Capitol Records LP (1984), fell back into a pop-rock middle-of-the-road-easy listening domain. This is what this new set of Wesley Stace represents.
It isn’t bad either, but it is a few steps from the original path. Maybe we’re all older now? But the music projected is appropriate, & he has the right voice for these ballads. Also known as the singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding (with 17 albums), Wesley Stace (his real name) was first used, if I remember correctly, when he published 4 novels. Personally, I prefer the Stace name — Harding is known as both a classic Bob Dylan album & before that a real gunfighter with the last name Hardin (who the late singer-songwriter Tim Hardin was related to).
There are 11 well-manicured tunes to One Last Heist (Drops Sept. 2/Pravda Records/46:50) produced by Wesley (harmonica/vocals) with David Nagler (keys/acoustic & electric guitars/Tres/bgv/arrangements) & recorded in Philadelphia & Brooklyn. The lush compositions are elegant – nothing’s overpowering, bombastic, or pretentious. “Hanging Up the Sickle” has some of his old, propulsive, engaging styles. Wesley doesn’t treat his songs as commercial mainstream entities. They have an element of gratification through varied instrumentation. Fluttering flutes race above his vocals & the backup vocals are fluid.
His balladry isn’t embedded in Michael Bublé or Harry Connick Jr. discipline. Instead, he adds a haunting slice to “This Knowledge Dies With Me,” a slow, percolating & yes, edgy number. It isn’t as tantalizingly dark as atmospheric. Again, the flute flourishes swing in like a bat in the evening sky. There’s a process at work with the Wesley Stace musicianship. I like it. It doesn’t necessarily sound like anyone else.
Some tunes will enable one to visualize a matchstick between the lips of Mr. Stace as Hoagy Carmichael in “Get It In Your Fingers” — a retro 1940 highly polished piece. There are bits of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with the torrential lyrics firing away from Wesley’s voice. Impressive, but with “Thoughts & Prayers,” this superb tune is worth seeking out, intense & beautiful.
Quite a cool piece among many pensive numbers.
Highlights – “Hanging Up the Sickle,” “This Knowledge Dies With Me,” “Get It In Your Fingers,” “Not My Speed” & “Thoughts & Prayers.”
Musicians – Eddie Carlson (bass), Stephane San Juan & Patrick Berkery (drums), Gustavo Di Dalva (percussion), Joe Gore & Justin Mazer (guitars), Matt Cappy (trumpet/flugelhorn), Domenica Fossati (flute), Michael Blake (alto flute), Stuart Bogie (clarinet/sax), Chris von Sneidern & Verena Wiesendanger (bgv) with Amy Tan (viola), Irene Han (cello), Ledah Finck & Sarah Thomas (violin).
CD image courtesy of Ilya Mirman. CD @ Bandcamp & Amazon + https://www.wesleystace.com/one-last-heist