D.R.Roberts
Album: Down And Out In Gospel Oak
Label: Nothern Sun
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.drrobertsmusic.com/

Seems like a somewhat belated introduction to D.R.Roberts who's been on the music scene for quite some time before the appearance of his debut album. How come? "Where's he been and what's he been doing then?" comes the cry. In fact it might even be a case of "Who is he?" at the same time, so to cut a long story short...

…he's bided his time in a band called Shooter back in the nineties; a band who despite the lack of opportunities to get a record out, were developing a reputation as a decent gigging band both in the UK and US before imploding (possibly one of the few casualties of the millennium bug?) at the start of the new millennium. Having taken time out and some down time in the throes of domesticity, the chance to soak up all the influences of a record collection including The Band, Gram Parsons and Television, which he eloquently and alliteratively terms "where poetry meets melody, melts and makes magic" which in turn provided sufficient inspiration to give rise to the material on 'Down And Out In Gospel Oak'.

There's a distinct Englishness about the songs, their lyrics, their arrangements and delivery and a clear influence of some of the great British songwriters of our time. The age old yet highly appropriate phrase 'world weariness' springs to mind about the songs, encompassed in a distinct range of arrangements and styles. What else in notable is the uncanny resemblance to early Bowie and the songwriting style of Ian Hunter, with the track 'Beach Roses' described by producer Gary Hall as the best song Bowie never wrote.

In particular, the Bowie inspiration takes hold on 'Dragging Yourself Down Blues', 'So Close Yet Nowhere Near' and the occasional phrasing and word choices cropping up throughout the album can't fail to recollect very early Bowie. One of those things which once you've heard it, you can't get it out of your head. That's not so say that originality is notable by its absence. Roberts can't be accused of showcasing the variety in his influences and songwriting - check out the country rock of the opening track 'Heavy Weather Girl', the more bluesy feel of 'Knocking On The Door Of The Deaf' to the melancholic and stark acoustic title track.

'Fifteen Years' may well have some autobiographical content. Just Roberts, acoustic guitar and harmonica, you get the feel he's getting something off his chest as he sings of the fifteen years of the title being alternatively as wasting time, wasting space and being sold. Not so much bitter and twisted, but more sadly resigned to fate. Overall, 'Down And Out In Gospel Oak' comes across as very low key with no great frills or fanfare, it's appeal being very much in an unassuming and unpretentious set of songs which creep up on you and take you on a journey to a time when the art of songwriting was the secret to success.

Mike Ainscoe