Matt Deighton - You Are The Healer

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Former Mother Earth member and Paul Weller sidekick, Deighton's second solo album is a pleasure to hear.Actually recorded in the spring of 1996 but delayed until now it was well worth waiting for. Sounding not unlike Steve Winwood's Traffic from the late sixties in places, Deighton has the talent to add something new and fresh to the 12 tracks on offer here.Drawing on influences from the past but making them sound new and exciting is never easy but Deighton has succeeded.Helped by Nicola Bright- Thomas (who also wrote the lyrics to 3 of the tracks) on vocals and Brian Auger on Hammond and piano (anyone remember Wheels On Fire?) the album is a lot more varied than his last one, The Villager. Listening to the title track one wonders if this was the album Weller was trying to make when he was working on Wildwood. The words pastoral and organic are probably the best ones to use in describing You Are The Healer as well as Wildwood but Deighton has the stronger songs here.The addition of sax, flutes and strings make this a fuller sound than his previous work. What makes this different from other 'organic folk/rock' albums is the soulfulness of Deighton's voice. Again, the best comparison would be a sweeter Steve Winwood mixed with a touch of latter day Weller which can't be bad.Nicola Bright-Thomas's contribution should not be overlooked though. Her harmonies (and lead vocals) are superb. Although it would be hard to choose the best track on an album which does not contain any fillers, the title song is probably the most immediate, funky track. The closer, Next Year, is one of the best ballads on offer using strings effectively and with a gorgeous melody. If you liked Wildwood and Weller's first solo album, you are gonna love this! A new album, The Common Ground, is due shortly; a little more electric than You are the Healer apparently, and with input from Weller, Steve White and Mick Talbot. A solo album by Nicola Bright-Thomas is also due soon. We can only hope that Matt's new job replacing Gallagher senior on stage does not interfere with his solo work or get in the way of the planned releases. Having to wait another four years to hear work of this quality would be far too long..

Track Listing:-

1 5 Years In Pieces
2 Easy Times
3 Twisted Wheel
4 You Are The Healer
5 Lay Down Your Weary Light
6 The Garden Grows
7 72 Minutes To Switzerland
8 In The Finish
9 Little Lost
10 Tannis Root
11 So Are You
12 Next Year

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