Reg Meuross - Faraway People

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 2 / 10 / 2017

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Review

A companion piece to the last album from singer/songwriter Reg Meuross (‘December’) which forms the second part of a trilogy of totally solo albums capturing the spirit and intimacy of his live shows, ‘Faraway People’ is also the master storyteller’s most topical album to date as well. His protest album if you will. As usual with Meuross there are songs that delve back into history, told in his regular inimitable style, but titles such as ‘Refugee’ also show that Meuross is as concerned about current affairs as he is about past atrocities. So we’ll start with ‘Refugee’ because it’s a subject that is affecting many people and doesn’t seem like it’s going to be satisfactorily solved any time soon. The song is blessed with one of those trademark Meuross melodies, catchy and unforgettable. His vocals are still mellow but compelling and lyrically there are few who can match Meuross. The story unfolds about how these highly educated people are forced to flee their homeland to take what it appears Meuross regards as unimportant or menial jobs. “It hasn’t always been like this/Stacking shelves from nine to three/He studied law had a wife and kids but now he’s just a refugee.” Unfortunately that doesn’t just apply to refugees but Meuross gets his view across. “We’ll pass your mother round they said unless you come and fight with me/And as she ran his mother said my honour’s not your currency." They are again chilling words that cut to the bone and that ring true but still do not paint the whole picture. Some understanding or mention for those who have been forced to move from their residence in their homeland or who have been attacked at festivals this very year, which is another side to the refugee issue, would have made the song even more compelling. While Meuross might find some resistance to his views on the aforementioned, there will be far fewer who don’t agree with what Meuross has to say and who will find comfort in the other songs on ‘Faraway People’. The title track especially will find an audience willing to listen; how government cuts have affected the lives of people just trying to make their way in life. There are few who can articulate the atrocities many are made to suffer as well as Meuross does. ‘Angel in a Blue Dress’ addresses the problems within the NHS while recognising the power of music and shows why Meuross is so highly regarded as a storyteller. He places the listener right in the centre of the story so it’s impossible not to be affected by the tale. It’s not all political. Three of the songs are love songs Meuross style. ‘New Brighton Girl’ is immediately appealing, Meuross at his most gentle vocally, it’s pretty melody cradling his lyrics perfectly. “On a Sunday in England, there’s hope in the air/The bells of the north call the faithful to prayer.” Meuross paints pictures with his lyrics, and the listener can immediately visualise the scene. ‘In Your Arms’, the second love song, is another touching, longing Meuross tale. Meuross proves that his stories need no unnecessary embellishments; that voice, lived in but still so comforting and an acoustic is all that’s needed to get his message across. ‘In Dreams’ completes the trio of love songs. Again an acoustic and that voice, gentle but commanding, is all that is needed. Couple that with another pretty melody and it’s another winner from Meuross. ‘Phil Ochs And Elvis Eating Lunch In Morrison’s Café’ apparently actually happened. So they were lookalikes that Meuross and Hank Wangford eavesdropped on while taking a break from driving while on tour, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that the song is one of the best that Meuross has ever written. ‘Leaving Alabama’ also concerns a meeting of two famous people; this time it’s an imaginary scenario though. Hank Williams (“You’re that singer off the radio that Lovesick Blues man”) meets up with Dylan Thomas in a bar (“The Welshman stumbles in…man says my name is Dylan but I never wrote a song”) It’s so easy given Meuross’ dulcet tones and the instantly memorable melody to be drawn into this imaginary conversation. Both those ‘meeting’ songs rank among the best Meuross has delivered over the ten albums he has released so far. Of the protest songs, ‘The Lonesome Death of Michael Brown’ was inspired by the story of an 18 year-old black man who was shot down by a white police officer after reportedly robbing a convenience store in Ferguson, Missouri; the questions it raises are certainly thought provoking. The same can be said of ‘For Sophie (This Beautiful Day)’ who was convicted of high treason and executed after distributing anti-war leaflets at the University Of Munich; this tale of the anti-Nazi WW2 activist is particularly touching and haunting. The centrepiece is the eight minute ‘Cicero’; it recalls Dylan’s ‘A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall’ in a number of ways, the call and response construction of the song being the most obvious. The song is inspired by the writings of Roman philosopher and lawyer Marcus Cicero. ‘Faraway People’ is a strong set of songs, some of the best that Meuross has yet recorded and certainly his most diverse set of songs. Even if the reaction these songs attracts isn’t perhaps what Meuross was hoping for the fact that people have listened and taken in what he has to say surely goes some way to confirm that he is still one of the most important storytellers of his generation.

Track Listing:-

1 Faraway People
2 Angel in a Blue Dress
3 The Lonesome Death of Michael Brown
4 For Sophie (This Beautiful Day)
5 New Brighton Girl
6 Cicero
7 Refugee
8 In Your Arms
9 Leavin' Alabama
10 In Dreams
11 Phil Ochs & Elvis Eating Lunch in Morrisons Cafe

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/RegMeurossMus
http://www.regmeuross.com/
https://twitter.com/regmeuross

Label Links:-

http://www.propermusic.com/label/Hatso