Review for Homeworking
Thanks to Rocking Magpie for reviewing Homeworking.
Contemporary Indie-Folk From His Bedroom to Yours
Like far too many musicians these days; Robert initially Crowdfunded this album (like its predecessor) while recording it at home, and also shoehorning in a number of other Arts based jobs to get by.
Some years ago, constant touring would have been his ‘day job’; but now with a lot more musicians trying to fit into only a few small venues this is how it works now; oh … and he’s having to do his own publicity at the same time.
As another sign of the times; the album, bar a couple of tracks when Matthew Pinfield adds guitar to two songs; is Robert playing every other instrument, singing and recording/producing it all himself.
It’ll come to me later; but there’s something about the stark and melancholic opening song; Somewhere In the Dark that reminds me of a *singer-songwriter from my youth.
The chorus on this tale of unrequited love/break up song is repeated ad infinitum against a claustrophobic backing of guitar, bass and synthesiser (?) to create a song that certainly captured my attention.
This is followed by the slightly more uptempo Pass The Day; but the underlying story is still one where ‘love’ isn’t all hearts and flowers anymore.
Like so many albums I’ve received this year Homeworking was written and recorded during the pandemic and assorted lockdowns; which probably accounts for the weariness and depth of the songs on offer here; none more so than the heartbreaking Kidding Myself, A Lover Or A Friend and Sick of Me; which is actually Lane baring his inner feelings about himself, to the world.
Four albums into his career; and nothing but time on his hands during the lockdowns; Lanes’s songs flit between introspective soul baring through observations of the world around him with ease and good grace, with a couple like the Bluesy Your Baby’s Changed Her Mind and So Many Songs straddling both perspectives with ease.
I presume he wanted to give his fans ‘value for money’ which would explain the inclusion of the instrumental Clean Echoes and final track, Christmas 2020 (This Year is Absurd) which while basically true, hasn’t aged that well and possibly should have been left as a surprise inclusion in concert.
There are two quite special songs on this album which I’m struggling to select one of as my Favourite Song.
The titular Homeworking features some rather beautiful and intricate guitar playing behind Robert as he captures the feelings of both hope and despair many of us felt at that confusing time; perfectly ….. and if I’m to critique and compare the other songs; he proves ‘less is more here’ with no distracting computerised synth playing that masks his clever songwriting.
After I’ve said all that about the minimalist approach; the other song I like a lot, is the almost hymnal Listen In; which has the brooding addition of that fulsome electric keyboards etc. that builds to an crescendo like ending that left me almost breathless.
I appreciate that circumstances dictated the DIY format here; but it allows Lane to take these songs into two very different directions in the future; most likely stripping them back for solo performances but if he can pull together a real life band; perhaps for Festivals there’s the chance they will become very special indeed.
*The singer-songwriter(s) I’m thinking of are Clifford T Ward and …. trust me…. Leo Sayer!