Some may be surprised to discover that this is Alexis Taylor’s third solo outing away from the bright lights and big stages that he has grown accustomed to as lead vocalist of Hot Chip.
His first, ‘Rubbed Out’, appeared in 2008, while the band were touring the world amid Grammy and Mercury nominations. Taylor managed to find some quiet time to write and record a hidden folktronica gem, with ‘Await Barbarians’, home to stripped back ballads and minimal use of computers, following six years later. On ‘Piano’, the synths have been eschewed completely.
This is as minimalist as it gets. Taylor arrives armed with nothing but a piano and his now trademark trembling vocals, running through a series of ballads, covers, reinterpretations of his past work and collaborations. Repair Man, written with Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside, is a particular highlight.
Given the inspiration for the album – the recent loss of one of Taylor’s close friends – it does feel at times that we are listening voyeuristically, as though these songs were originally meant for personal therapy. But we should be thankful that Taylor has decided to share these musings on love and grief with us all.
So Much Further To Go, a reworking of a song from Hot Chip’s recent ‘Why Make Sense?’ LP, is a prime example of how it should be done, benefitting from added gravitas and vulnerability when deprived of any added blips and beeps. The same can be said of I Never Lock That Door, an About Group song revisited and given more meaning and feeling than its predecessor.
Given the album’s sparse arrangements, there is a worry that the sentimentality surrounding the songs could become cloying, but with the inclusion of thoughtful covers - Elvis Presley’s Crying In The Chapel and Crystal Gayle’s Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue - performed with such candour, it’s hard to berate Taylor for his choices.
Alexis Taylor Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed June 15 2016 - LONDON Burgh House
Tue June 21 2016 - MANCHESTER International Anthony Burgess Foundation
Click here to compare & buy Alexis Taylor Tickets at Stereoboard.com.
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
