[SACD-R][OF] Allan Taylor - Songs For The Road - 2010 (Folk Rock, Folk)

Allan Taylor – guitar, vocals
Michael Koschorrek – guitar, lap steel guitar, tremolo guitar, dobro, electric guitar
Ralf Gustke – drums, percussion
Hans-Jorg Maucksch – fretless bass, electric bass
Dieter Burmester – electric bass
Michael Kleinhans – tuba

Allan Taylor burst onto the English music scene forty years ago. Highly respected by his peers as a talented songwriter, he would become a staple of the emergent British folk scene, recording with members of Fairport Convention. With a highly developed sense of perception, his material has been covered on both sides of the Atlantic. Despite critical acclaim, commercial success would be elusive. He continued to record, and pursued a doctorate degree from the University in Belfast. His musical journey remains constant and aesthetic.
On Songs For The Road, Taylor offers introspective sketches of everyday life. Common themes are explored in five tightly arranged folk arrangements. ”Dedicated To…” has a laconic bluesy feel as the singer ponders the quiet desperation of love. With a straightforward guitar line, the song has a stripped down tone that has become resurgent in the industry (John Mellencamp employed a similar discipline on his latest release.). What stands out is the singing/talking baritone, recalling Johnny Cash or Mark Knopfler. The unique timbre of his voice underscores the pathos of the narratives. Reflections on rediscovering teenage romance are given a sentimental treatment on “Dancing On A Saturday Night”. The heartfelt aura of optimism is framed perfectly in a medium paced rockabilly waltz. Despite the mature vocal, the emotional angst of youth is echoed in the words (“I will steal a kiss under the pale moonlight…”). As the track draws to a close, a portion of the second verse is repeated in a dramatically slower manner. The simplicity of the message is accentuated with a nimble elegance.
Inspired by personal recollections of his father, “A Promise Is A Promise” recounts the complicated relationship between father and son. The mixture of redemption and closure is exemplified by the symbolism of a “real fast car”. A strained vocal conveys the fragility of the human spirit. The band is cohesive, subtle in context and expression, propelled by the fluid guitar licks. The minimalist production of “Midnight Call” takes a straightforward love story and creates an aural poem.
Stockfish continues to shine with its groundbreaking SACD technology. The precision and clarity of the stringed instrumentation is flawless, augmenting the acoustics without compromising the intended starkness. The Hybrid SACD Disc contains a CD audio layer playable on any standard machine. Additional video material on a data partition, (excerpted from the Stockfisch Blu-Ray Disc/DVD “The Endless Highway”) details various aspects of Taylor’s life and creative processes as a musician.
Songs For The Road is an engaging album. However at a sparse twenty-two minutes, the project could have benefited from more tracks. (Hopefully the price reflects the EP length…Ed.) -Robbie Gerson audiophile audition