Robin Adams - The Garden

  by Keith How

published: 12 / 4 / 2015

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From the moment the opening guitar notes cascade from the speakers you know that 'The Garden' is going to be a bit special. Even though Robin Adams has been likened to singer/songwriters from times past, there is a controlled quiet aggression in his playing that gives his compositions a fragile edginess consistent throughout the album. Adams hails from Glasgow and this is his fourth offering. His abilities are clear for all to see/hear, and his previous works have earned him accolades and songwriting awards. Although Robin has not been able to tour, his latest offering confirms his promise. This release has been inspired mainly by the struggles and difficult times of artist Vincent Van Gogh. Adams approached the songs on the record imagining how the Master might have created a painting. The album opens with the title track, which sets the tone for what is to come, and is poetic and gentle, guitar led. 'Paint Me the Day' follows, and is a plaintive cry to an artist to let colours flow and to have vision. It is a song with such atmosphere that the the listener is drawn to reflection. 'Keep Me' is next, and has a lovely harmonica lending a shade of blue to proceedings while Adam’s vocals reveal a slightly anxious tone. Minimal and intimate, what’s not to like? Imagine a delicate watercolour depicting dark clouds at sunset and you have a sense of 'Troubled Skies' with its lovely descending chorus that stays with you. I understand the album was recorded in a bedroom overlooking a garden and the intimacy generated is highlighted in this tune. I almost felt that I was intruding on a prayer. A change in mood. 'Street' pushes on with a sense of motion underpinned by finger style guitar and an almost urgent vocal. Adams returns to a melancholic vibe on 'Holy Smoke', a fragile tone poem with cello provided by Pete Harvey, which is possibly the highlight of the album. In a change of pace, 'Need Not Turn' rolls along gently while the vocals lend a slightly desperate air to a very fine composition. While 'The Garden' is not a folk record Robin Adams’ guitar virtuosity is once again revealed on 'Midnight Blood' before the album closes with 'Collision Course' with Adam’s world-weary voice weaving a final spell to leave you enchanted. An artist might be accused of using a “limited palette”, but in the hands of a skilled craftsman the effect is stunning and so it is with this moving album . A subtle blend of melody and poetry captured beautifully. 'The Garden' is infused with the ghosts of a bygone era and would not have been out of place on Joe Boyd’s Witchseason labe. Such is the quality of both the lyrics and performance. I offer this as a compliment to both musician and producer who have captured the rawness and honesty of the work.Creating a masterpiece is a labour of love. Bravery is required to see out your vision. Somedays it flows, at other times you feel desolate and hopeless. The key is to be relentless in pursuit of your vision. Van Gogh was not deterred and obviously Adams is travelling that same path. 'The Garden' is a fine album and well worthy of investigation.

Track Listing:-

1 The Garden
2 Paint Me the Day
3 Keep Me
4 Troubled Skies
5 Right to Run
6 Street
7 Holy Smoke
8 Need Not Turn
9 Midnight Blood
10 Collision Course

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/robinadamsband
https://twitter.com/robinadamsmusic

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