REVIEW: KAZ MURPHY – RIDE OUT THE STORM (2019)

Published:

Kaz Murphy has led quite a life since he became a lead singer at the age of 10. One, that to be fair puts those of us who do humdrum pretty well, to shame.

Amongst other things, he’s been a rather nomadic writer, a musician who has been percussionist for Alan Ginsberg, he turned his hand to musicals, fronted a folk band, worked in Europe and found the time to release some solo records.

It is this that concerns us with respect to this review, though, given that “Ride Out The Storm” is his fourth solo endeavour – and he sure sounds at home across these 11 songs!

All self-penned – he doesn’t go down the route of many of his obvious contemporaries of the odd cover or collaboration – this collection is one of a man who is clearly an avid people watcher and moreover, a skilled interpreter of the human condition.

“When People Come Together” the opener, is typical. A simple plea for unity (“I’ve been to Hoboken I’ve been to Hollywood Ain’t much difference, just a neighbourhood”) but before the end he invokes the spirit of John Steinbeck as if looking for parallels between the plight of the populace now and in the great depression.

What is typical too is the fabulous, timeless musical bedrock that this is all built upon. No one is trying to reinvent any wheels here and the record is better for it.

“Sunny Day” is a simple, bluesy throb and an obvious homage to a hero (“his name was Cash, and that’s a fact”) while “Blue Devil Sky” tells the story of a family breakdown but is elevated above the norm by the wonderful voice that Murphy possesses. There is – and I’ve thought about this a lot – a real touch of Elvis’ country records about this.

That voice essentially takes over anything here. Whether it be the gentle “Thunderhead” or even on the spoken word intro to “Soft Heart” – and at the risk of getting too political here – the world would be a much better place if our leaders either here or over there used this simple mantra for kindness as their starting point.

“Where You Come From” has a flavour of Nick Cave and is based on a book by a writer called Karen Fisher, as if to emphasise that Murphy comes at lyrics from a different point.

“All I Wanna Do Is Work” seems to be more personal than most, as if he was keen to throw himself into his craft “Don’t wanna think about yesterday Don’t wanna think about a year ago Don’t wanna contemplate my soul Don’t wanna think about growin’ old” goes one of its verses, and very much that feels pivotal.

“Somebody Could Be Me” is more jaunty, and concerns itself with getting back with an ex, but at the other end of the scale “Stella Rae” is a stark reflection on addiction. Reminiscent, perhaps (musically at least) of Springsteen circa “Tunnel Of Love” it is one of the best of a very good bunch.

This is not a record that sounds too urgent anywhere, but there is a tremendous relaxed feel about “Forget About The World” and it ends with another strand that hadn’t really been evident before. “Rise Me Up” is a little funky and there is a gospel flourish to the chorus.

This was made working with Scrappy Jud Newcombe, a producer who has worked with Slaid Cleaves, there are many of the same qualities here. “Ride Out The Storm” is a classy 40 odd minutes of storytelling, of insight, of character based songwriting. Many try and do this, few do it as well as Kaz Murphy.

Rating 8/10

 

 

More From Author

spot_img

Popular Posts

Latest Gig Reviews

Latest Music Reviews

spot_img

Band Of The Day