James Power “Real, Real Man” (Independent, 2007)

Keeping it really real

Power comes across like a rougher version Richard Hawley with a Lonnie Donegan rather than a Roy Orbison fetish. These songs are proudly blue-collar, straining for an authenticity that has probably escaped him previously in his varied stints in Techno, Prog and even Goth bands; he’s thrown off all of these and come on home to Americana. The songs feature strong men in High Noon situations, armed with a guitar, women are loved, men are killed, hearts, noses and backs are broken. His voice is strong and carries the songs with conviction, the rock or the ballad, real real men have feelings and can cry. He is a storyteller; ‘Frankie’ tells the tale of a date gone wrong, so wrong that Frankie dies in a car smash. Reminds me a little of Paul K, it’s that kind of passion for the subject, the lack of pretence; these songs are what they are. ‘Cold, Cold World’ is a lovely slice of skiffle showing the real power at work and the hunger to communicate.

Date review added:  Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Reviewer:  David Cowling
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Like the power