Nick Rooke
Album: Trouble Adjustin'
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.nickrooke.co.uk

In "Trouble Adjustin'", singer-songwriter Nick Rooke, has produced an album with a big sound feel, an album that feels more for concert halls and theatre than for pubs and bars, then just when you feel that's where this is going the tune changes and it takes on that more raucous feel. If we compromise on a big beer tent with a stage, I think we all know where we're coming from.

The title gives a large clue as to the theme that runs through the album, relocating an individual from one set of circumstances into another and the impact that that has. It's a broad theme, one that runs along the gamut of emotion, location, circumstance, having the world change around you when you pause to stand still and take a breath.

Similarly the songs also run along the musical spectrum, taking on sounds that move from the lighter side of rock, through more acoustic sounding numbers, even taking on traditional and Celtic elements as and when required.

There are times where this feels like quite a feminine album, particularly where the songs have quite a high emotional quotient. Similarly there are also points where it almost feels spiritual, bordering on country/gospel. Nick Rooke would appear to be a singer-songwriter that's happy to let the songs take control.

"Trouble Adjustin'" has hit a rich vein of inspiration and Nick Rooke has turned it into a fine collection of songs and it does feel more like a song book than an album, but as I've said before that's not a bad thing, it's a good way to work and it never did the likes of Sinatra any harm.

Consequently this is an album I find myself dipping into, rather than playing from start to finish, though that does work. Importantly there is no filler on "Trouble Adjustin'". Not all the songs are immediate, but they do all work when the mood takes you.

Neil King