Gilmore & Roberts
Album: Conflict Tourism
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/

Gilmore & Roberts, Kat Gilmore and Jamie Roberts to add the first names, are a duo that I've been fortunate enough to have followed since before the release of their debut album, "Shadows And Half Light" back in 2009. Since then it seems that there has been an additional year between releases. "Up From The Deep" followed in 2010, then "The Innocent Left" in 2012. 2015 brings album number four, "Conflict Tourism", both their strongest and darkest album yet and one that has been well worth the wait.

The gap has been for all the right reasons, both members of the duo have been involved in other recording projects, but hearing Kat and Jamie back together is like reuniting heart and soul, bread and wine.

There is no disputing "Conflict Tourism" is a hard album, it's almost impossible to explore the themes of this album without it being uncompromising. Conflict impacts different people in different ways, regardless of whether that's a conflict on a truly international scale or at a more personal level. It forces some people into retreat and leads to others making acts of personal sacrifice and compromise in order to resolve those issues and how that impacts as well.

As with previous albums vocal duties are switched and swapped between the duo ensuring that the dynamic of the album never stands still, that there is always something different to explore. It also brings me back to the heart and soul of the duo, there seems to be both a physical and spiritual element to the album and to each track.

Whilst most of the tracks reflect those more personal touches, I wonder how tempted Gilmore & Roberts were to open "Warmonger" with the line, "This one's for Tony Blair". It is the most powerful track on the album and if it not directed at Tony Blair personally, it strikes to the heart of his type.

Gilmore & Roberts have always been exceptional songwriters and "Conflict Tourism" brings that point home time and time again, just check out the sign off track "Ghost Of A Ring" and see if you remain unmoved. (I might suggest that if you are unmoved by it, take up a career as a statue.)

It's great to have Jamie and Kat back, "Conflict Tourism" is a hard knock album that makes you realise that some things are worth fighting for, but that a lot of the time, it's predator energy out there looking for a home. Quite simply get this album and then hope like the blazes it's not four years to the next one.

Neil King