John Train “Mesopotamia Blues” (Chapter7 Records 2007)

A challenging and pleasant experience

John Train singer-songwriter Jon Houlon may have risen to the challenge laid down by Neil Young for a younger musician to write a challenging anti war record, a little too well.

It would be a travesty if Mesopotamia Blues became a victim of its own intelligence. Houlon is a superbly eloquent voice for the cause but nowadays we tend to like our musician/conscience to be burning with righteous indignation and delivered with fire and brimstone as standard. Houlon has taken a broader and more measured approach, there may just be a touch too much reason for general consumption.

Instead of just railing against the immediate causes and tragic effects of the Iraq War, Houlon has tied it to its place in history, bringing in the British rule of Mesopotamia – the album closes with Mesopotamia 1917, a Kipling poem set to music – and America’s involvement in Vietnam.

And in a bid to set the album in its proper context, songs from John Stewart, Tom T Hall, Terry Allen and Butch Hancock are brought in. All in all you’ll struggle to find a more balanced album that still delivers a stinging message.

And yet at the heart of all this balance and reason lie some human stories. Whatever your personal point of view, it’s impossible to avoid being rocked to the core by Leachman’s Ghost, Mama Bake A Pie and Already Gone Equipment Failure and Draft Age paint in broad, vivid strokes but it’s the little moments and memories that provide the real shock. In this case tragedy is real and boils down to single people, it’s something that John Train does better than most. Houlon’s gift as a writer and singer is to never let you forget that.

But as worthy as it is, Mesopotamia Blues wouldn’t work without making some kind of musical impact and it may not have been the intention but it’s also a great pleasure to listen to. This would have been a very worthwhile project on its own merits. What it says adds an extra edge to the engaging way its said, a trick that sometimes eludes Neil Young.

Date review added:  Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Reviewer:  Michael Mee
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