Lucky Strikes - The Exile and the Sea

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 31 / 10 / 2013

---

'The Exile and the Sea', the fourth album from the Essex-based the Lucky Strikes, continues in the vein of their previous releases in that it’s a concept album of sorts, but this time the band have abandoned tales set in the Southern States of America as on their last two albums for something a little more closer to their hearts and home; the songs on ‘The Exile and the Sea’ were written after the band searched through the archives of local newspapers and journals drawing on the history of the Thames Estuary for their latest batch of songs. Not surprisingly there is a more British and homegrown sound to the songs that make up ‘The Exile and the Sea’. That’s not to say that the band have completely deserted the Americana feel of their previous albums. Close your eyes and the music these Essex boys on this album make can still just about evoke memories of The Band, but there is a distinctly British sound woven into their music now. Traditional English and Celtic folk music play a large part in the make-up of the eleven original songs here. At a push the Waterboys would have to be mentioned as purveyors of a similar sound and feel at times, but really this is a collection of songs where the Lucky Strikes consolidate all of their past influences to produce a fresh slant on their music and in doing so have made their best album to date. Frontman Matthew Boulter has always had a distinctive, emotive voice but on ‘The Exile and the Sea’ Boulter’s vocals sound even more heartfelt; as early as the second track, ‘The Beast Burnt Down’, where the band recall the night that fire destroyed much of Southend Pier in October 2005. It’s clear that over the course of not only the Lucky Strikes albums, but also through his solo albums Boulter has matured as a singer and is now the possessor of one of our most expressive voices. The songs, as well-crafted as they are, would be less effective without a singer of Boulder’s class. To prove the point that Boulder can tackle any vocal demand and win, in the following song, ‘The Exile and the Sea’, Boulder’s vocals are pitched slightly higher than usual complementing the haunting quality of this title song perfectly. The atmosphere conjured up by this song brings images of mothers grieving for their sons lost to the waters along the coast, again showing just how powerful the songs on this set are. There are songs that will set more than your toes tapping, ‘New Avalon’ just one of the songs to benefit from Wild Jim Wilson’s fiddle playing, even at just under three minutes, seems to end far too soon, and despite the ill-fated relationship as detailed in ‘The Butcher and Mrs. Shaw’ the music is still uplifting. Though every one of the eleven songs could be singled out for special attention the one song that immediately stood out was ‘Ballet Shoes’. What can only be described as a gorgeous melody with Wilson’s fiddle now evoking tears instead of happiness, the narrator takes a backwards glance as Boulter turns in a stunning and his most English vocal performance to date. It really is a moving performance from all concerned. Far from the collection of sea-shanties the title and subject matter might fool you into believing ‘The Exile and the Sea’ would be (although tracks such as ‘Goldspring’ could certainly be classed as one), there is enough diversity displayed throughout the album to keep the most restless listener interested. ‘The Exile and the Sea’ isn’t just another fine collection of songs from one of the UK s most underrated bands. It’s a career best and surely the album that is going to introduce The Lucky Strikes to a far wider audience than they’ve captured before.

Track Listing:-

1 To Be King
2 The Beast Burnt Down
3 The Exile and the Sea
4 New Avalon
5 The Butcher and Mrs Shaw
6 Ballet Shoes
7 Goldspring
8 The Devil Knows Yourself
9 Vincent
10 The Ghost and the Actress
11 The Writer

Band Links:-

http://www.theluckystrikes.co.uk/discography
https://www.facebook.com/TheLuckyStrikesOfficial
https://twitter.com/theluckystrikes
https://www.youtube.com/user/LuckyStrikesVideos

Label Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/Harbour-Song-Records-484405428286826/
http://www.harboursong.co.uk/
https://harboursongrecords.bandcamp.com/

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg