Ian Bailey - Tower Songs

  by John Clarkson

published: 5 / 9 / 2010

Label: Northern Sun Recordings
Format: CD

intro

Fine, orchestral-sounding third album from English singer-songwiter and guitarist Ian Bailey

'Tower Songs' is the third album of English singer-songwriter and guitarist Ian Bailey and takes its name from the fact that it was recorded at Lindeth Tower, a retreat on the Lancashire coastline that was used by Victorian novelist and 'Cranford' author Elizabeth Gaskell. Bailey carries his influences openly and many of the tracks on 'Tower Songs' are reminiscent with their meandering, orchestral sound of Barclay James Harvest. Another of the songs, 'Romance of a Modern Invention', recalls Bob Dylan in Bailey's nasal vocals and with its rollicking country tune. Bailey has a rich voice, which matches much of the lushness of the music on 'Tower Songs', and enhales his lyrics, which tell in the main of love lost and found, with a genuine sense of passion and evocativeness. There is, however, a particular rapport between Bailey and his strings arranger Richard Curran, and two of the best tracks on 'Tower Songs' are in fact instrumentals which feature just them and upon which Bailey plays guitar and Curran appears on one song, 'La Puerto', on mandolin and the other, 'La Puerto', on strings. Another highlight is the stormy closer, 'Saving Grace', which concludes as 'Tower Songs' begins on 'Anywhere' with the billowing sound of the wind and has Bailey, Curran on strings and his regular bassist Pete Brown and drummer Mark Whiteside, playing with a pianist, Justin Randall, and a five-strong female choir. 'Tower Songs' is a fine album from a singer-songwriter of both talent and ability.

Track Listing:-