Other Reviews

14/02/2009

On These Dark Nights

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Jim Byrne

Jim Byrne recently embraced an acoustic path after years of rocking out on the Scottish scene and beyond. His guitar and voice has been an integral part of Dexter Slim And The Pick-ups, The Hemingways, Hyperstar, Loris and as a session man for hire. He was also the founder of the Kazoo Club in Glasgow, giving new groups a chance to play. One such band was Franz Ferdinand and Jim eventually relinquished the club to Alex Kapranos from the group.

I read somewhere that Jim said how ironic the solo life has been; he's jamming and collaborating more than ever. The helping hands here provide splashes of colour with bass, Wurlitzer piano, banjo, mandolin, more guitar and singing.

Jim's shuffling guitar patterns can seem simplistic, however, they are the product of thirty years of callous building practise. The honed woody sound is alive with history and is the perfect vehicle for his deeply resonant voice.

The opener 'The Handle's Broken On My Cup' has wisps of lead guitar that soothe the pace still further. It gives maximum space for the songs languid prose: 'And on the days, the days that lie ahead, I will try to mend this broken thread'. It's an hypnotic effect, showing off Jim's sharp attention to detail, and sets the scene for these stories of softly spoken love.

The elements provide the metaphors on the wonderfully executed 'My Weather Girl'. It's reminiscent of the mighty Eric Bibb and plenty of other bluesmen with some cool forthright picking. So you can imagine what 'My Daddy's Car' sounds like when the banjo starts up; we're in jumping jugband territory.

At the end, 'The Secrets You're Keeping', appears to be a live recording and it'll steal your heart. This passionate lover's plea, initially sung by Vivien Scotson and Madelaine Hart with just the laziest strum for accompaniment, is raw heartfelt gold.

On this evidence, Jim Byrne's maiden voyage on the good ship solo, is heading into favourable waters without a hint of bad weather up ahead. 

David Kushar

JIM'S SITE