P.G. Six - Slightly Sorry

  by Andrew Carver

published: 24 / 2 / 2007

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Review

P.G. Six – a.k.a. Patrick Gubler – is a man whose time has come. His recording career started 10 years ago with Tower Recordings, and now the 'freak folk' genre has arrived for him to belong to. On 'Slightly Sorry' Six shows off the field’s dedication to the twin stars of Britain and California. The album starts with the instrumental 'Untitled Micro Mini', which combines fluid fingerpicking with hand percussion and demonstrates P.G. Six’s debt to the British folk boom. From one side Gubler draws on performers like the Incredible String Band and Pentangle, 'Slightly Sorry' also draws on the influence of 1970s California folk rock (albeit without the overproduction): Laurel Canyon, Gene Clark and their respective circles. The album’s two covers split the difference, with 'Lily of the West' a traditional song and a live favourite of Bert Jansch (often cited as an inspiration of Gubler’s), the other is 'Not I the Seed' by Youngbloods associate Jeffrey Cain. The eight originals also wander between the two poles. Gubler adds his own deadpan vocals and a heavy dose of wurlitzer on 'The Dance' for a West Coast feel, while 'The End of Winter' strips things back down with the narcotic vocals of co-writer Helen Rush accompanied solely by Six’s fingerpicked acoustic. The wild card in the deck is 'I’ve Been Travelling', which draws on the jangly side of California pop. Gubler ties the album together with a lyrical focus on failed romance. 'Slightly Sorry” isn’t the most compelling work from P.G. Six, but it’s a capable album that will likely strike a chord with fans of such artists as Bill Callahan and Cat Power.

Track Listing:-

1 Untitled Micro Mini
2 The Dance
3 Strange Messages
4 Cover Art Reprised
5 The End Of Winter
6 I've Been Traveling
7 Bless These Blues
8 Not I The Seed
9 Lily Of The West
10 Sweet Music

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