Cameron Blake
Album: Alone On The World Stage
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.cameronblakemusic.com

Having been described as "modern folk with a twist" the music of Cameron Blake harks back to earlier times when folk songs belonged in the domain of social commentary and world events and were often associated with the protest movement.

His latest offering takes up the mantle of challenging the modern world of social media and immediate communication at many levels and adapts his songwriting skills for a contemporary audience with his roots firmly in the traditional song ethos and philosophy.

With just solo voice and guitar as the only instruments you'll hear throughout the album, Blake has talked about the huge learning curve in writing and playing songs which are strong enough to carry without added instruments. The production by Peter Fox and mastering by Grammy winner Bill Wolf add a dimension which allows the songs to breath and sound roomy and sonically spacious. Content wise, the songs range from global issues such as the complexities of conflict in the Middle East in 'Rise And Shine' to the more personal and intimate in 'Ultrasound' which, not surprisingly celebrates his unborn child.

The mainly American theme of the subject matter gets broken up with 'Piccadilly Circus', inspired by not only a trip to London but some typically raucous twentysomethings whose conduct evoked that annoyed/amused feeling (not to mention embarrassment). Perhaps the most telling song and lyrically the most simple song is 'Home Movies' - an emotionally charged performance recorded on a cheap piano and a song which brings the album content to a much more personal level which listeners can have some empathy. The thoughts of growing old, looking back and the passage of time and visions of mortality all come into play in a thought provoking piece.

Overall though it's the quality and strength of the material which is able to carry the lone voice and guitar when some might feel it can be a monotonous dirge coming one song after the other and be critical of the lack of variety. Cameron Blake has managed it admirably and delivered a low key country folk album which addresses the world and the individual with a steady and controlled voice.

And we almost got to the end of the review before commenting on the tousled haired troubadour look which personified Dylan in the sixties - not a bad reference point though is it?

Mike Ainscoe