Michael Weston King “A New Kind Of Loneliness” (Floating World 2007)

Another dozen great songs from one of Britain’s finest

I’m not much of a one for heroes, but if I was then Michael Weston King would be right up there on my list. Despite a body of work that stands comparison with the very best he could open the batting for a World XI of underrated singer-songwriters. But underrated and under-audienced as he is he just keeps on producing great albums, and the latest, his first of original material since 2003’s “A Decent Man”, while perhaps not quite it’s equal is pretty close and a superb piece of work. It’s dark mind, distinctly uneasy listening, as Weston King explores the seedy back alleys of the human psyche, from the domestic abuse of “It Will End In Tears” to the absent father lament of “Saturday’s Child” or, most harrowingly, “From Out of the Blue” and its child killer and his parents.

Musically he’s moved on a bit, as with the exception of the rollicking Cajun “Let the Waves Break Around Your Face” and “My Heart Stopped Today”, which features Chris Hillman and Herb Pederson and is very much in their style, there’s little trace of alt.country or Americana. Instead his full band (which includes Kevin Foster, Alan Cook and Jackie Leven) just play whatever works for the song, be it jazz, stripped bare acoustic, full on rocking and occasionally an almost orchestral sound and all these disparate styles are knitted together by Weston Kings lonely but powerful vocals.

The album is dedicated to his mother, who died last year and the inclusion of “Alone Again Naturally”, arguably the best song from his recent covers collection “Love’s A Cover”, acts as a tribute to her, with the final verse of this harmonium and brass driven lament almost unbearably poignant.

So there you have it, yet another album of the year contender that not nearly enough people will buy. Go on, prove me wrong and treat yourself.

Date review added:  Sunday, March 25, 2007
Reviewer:  Jeremy Searle
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Michael Weston King website