Paul Haig - Relive

  by John Clarkson

published: 7 / 1 / 2010

Label: Rhythm Of Life Inc
Format: CD

intro

Energetic and diverse latest album from former Josef K front man Paul Haig, who after almost nearly twenty years of making instrumental music has released with this his third album of vocal-led music in two and a half years

In the late 1980s Paul Haig vowed both never to sing or to perform live again. Throughout the 1990s and most of the recent decade, the Edinburgh-based ex-Josef K front man stuck to that, focusing his energies instead on releasing albums in his “imaginary soundtracks” ‘Cinematique’ series. Haig only finally started to renege on this in 2007, first of all releasing ‘Elektronik Audience’, his first vocal album since 1989’s ‘Chain’, and then returning to live work in 2008 after an absence of nineteen years. The last two and a half years since ‘Elektronik Audience’ have been a particularly active period in Paul Haig’s career, as he has also released two other vocal-led albums, 2008’s ‘Go Out Tonight’ and now ‘Relive’.On initial impressions, ‘Relive’ takes off from where both ‘Elektronik Audience’ and ‘Go Out Tonight’ left off. Its first half has similar spiralling electronica; brisk,no frills instrumentation and angst-torn lyrics. ‘Ambition’, which was written originally twenty years ago and then shelved, is especially effective. Opening with an ironic smattering of applause, it then throws a chiming synthesiser and buzzing guitar up against each other. Haig’s chanted, metal-tinged vocals two decades on prove to be prophetic of ‘The X Factor’/’Big Brother’ generation and its ignore-the-consequences desperation for fame. “What is it that you’ve done?/Cause you don’t have to be someone,” he despairs. On the quivering industrialised disco of the title track, Haig, whose prolonged hiatus from the live scene was caused by stage fright, could, however, be talking about himself (“I’ve got to move upside and learn to relive now/I’ve got to step inside and show that I mean it now”). At about the mid-point of ‘Relive’, the music starts to flow in different directions. On the breezy ‘Good Thing’, another song which was written twenty years ago and has again been revived, the guitars are upped in the mix, and the album briefly develops a surprisingly upbeat and brash pop edge (“It comes as no surprise now that I’m still having fun/It might just be a good thing/Everything will turn out fine”). ‘Round and Round’ was co-written with Josef K guitarist Malcolm Ross, and with its rumbling, clipped funky guitar work and Haig’s brittle vocal serves as a timely reminder of why that band have served as such as a big influence on Franz Ferdinand. ‘Listen to Me’ is a swooning ballad which finds Haig desperate and vulnerable (“You’ve got the key to my heart however near or far/Please listen to me”). On the final track ‘Eyes Wide Open’, a downbeat jangle pop number, any of the cagey optimism that has occasionally bubbled up elsewhere on the album has gone, and been replaced again by the paranoia and sense of dislocation that has been an integral part of all Haig’s work to date (“Trying hard to be someone/ with your eyes wide open as the sun comes down/and they call that living/You come home when your work is done/Feeling up on the sofa/Are you having fun?/It’s an ideal of living with your eyes wide open”). ‘Relive’ highlights an artist in the midst of an upsurge in his career and displaying great conviction, energy and style.

Track Listing:-