Nigel Brown
Album: Time Looks On
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 13
Website: http://www.nigelbrownmusic.com

Somewhat unusually Nigel Brown's new album, "Time Looks On", starts with an instrumental, "Over Jay's Grave" a tune about the landmark grave of a suicide on Dartmoor and, coincidently, also the inspiration for Seth Lakeman's "Kitty Jay".

Like aforementioned Lakeman, Nigel Brown grew up against a back drop of Dartmoor, but that's pretty much where the similarities end. "Time Looks On" is very much a contemporary songwriter's album, though influenced by folk themes in a number of places.

Part of this album is autobiographical, there are a number of songs that look back at adolescence, maybe it's a time of life thing, the album title alludes to such things, but does so in a way that gives it universal appeal, "The Village Disco", being such a song. Whilst I don't recall ever attending a disco in Chagford, there were certainly one or two locally that seemed to have the same tales of fights over girls and the decks getting knocked, good days. Similarly "Small Town Man" about going back to a place that was once familiar and half recognising faces in the crowd and wondering.

That said this is more than autobiographical, it's political history and at times taking in simple pleasures, like watching a lightning storm before reflecting how life can sometimes change in a flash. "Behind The Eyes" is the most political track on the album. Still focusing on the over-simplistic, in this case UKIP, but other nationalistic, racist bigots are available, the song leaves no doubt that attitudes like that are something that truck should not be given to.

If I'm being honest, "Time Looks On" is not a ground breaking album, but Nigel Brown has put together an album that reflects a song writer that is both a keen observer and one with the ability to put those observations into good songs and all power to him for it. If you want an album that has the here and now, but draws on those things that make us what we are as people, here's a good start, in fact a very good start. Well performed, down to earth, easy to enjoy.

Neil King