Thea Gilmore - Small World Turning

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 27 / 8 / 2019

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Review

It’s maybe going too far to say that Thea Gilmore has returned to her roots with her latest album, ‘Small World Turning’, but it’s certainly a return to her more acoustic work that was displayed on her earlier recordings. Thinking back now over Gilmore’s impressive back catalogue (is it sixteen or seventeen albums now?) it transpires that she’s taken in a few changes musically along her long journey. While a Thea Gilmore song has rarely (if ever) been short of a cutting, smart or loving lyric along with an uncanny knack for an irresistible hook, the various musical paths she has taken have all seemed a natural diversion. With ‘Small World Turning’ Gilmore once again changes course again, this time to one she’s visited before and, as usual, it’s a striking set of real songs. With the thought of such a body of work in mind one wonders if there are any other songwriters/artists quite like Thea Gilmore currently on the scene? Gilmore has never cut the same album twice. She has always been lyrically astute and her music has always been instantly accessible due to her ability to seemingly pluck memorable melodies and hooks out of the air (much like her husband and producer Niger Stonier). When it comes to consistently producing solid, inspiring albums Thea Gilmore surely is in a class of her own. So onto ‘Small World Turning’, which features eleven Gilmore originals (one co-write with Stonier) and a short take on the old traditional ‘Mockingbird’. That said song opens the album. The lullaby is presented in a short (less than a minute) unaccompanied take which suddenly fades out. It’s an effective way to open proceedings. There’s something unsettling about it like it’s predicting the loss of innocence. The album ends with another lullaby, ‘Dreamers’, a song that will touch anyone with a beating heart, with Thea taking on the part of a mother aiming to take her child across the Mexican border. ‘Mockingbird’ gives way to ‘Cutteslowe Walls’; the tale of the a dividing wall erected in Oxford which prevented those living in private housing from having to view the city’s Cutteslowe council estate. Gilmore’s astute lyrics paint the picture in detail. Blessed with another trademark Gilmore melody, it’s a powerful, atmospheric piece that gets its message across perfectly. ‘Don’t Dim Your Light for Anyone' features Cara Dillon and Sam Lakeman and is simply beautiful and inspiring. Musically it’s a cousin of the closer ‘Dreamers’; the atmosphere created by all involved is staggering. ‘The Fuse (Let It All Come Down)’ is Gilmore at her most commercial. It’s impossible to sit still or not to sing (or whistle) along to the song which musically is extended to another song, ‘Blowback’; memories of 60's groups flood back while listening to this track, a shrewd personality study which could have come from the pen of Ray Davies which could have been pulled from a Small Faces album. At the centre of the album are two songs that confirm just how important and talented Gilmore is. ‘Karr’s Lament’ is a piano ballad where Gilmore turns in one of her most heartrending vocal performances, while singing some of the best lines this outstanding lyricist has ever graced a song with. ‘Grandam Gold’ is another ballad, this time Cara Dillon shares vocal duties. It’s a match made in heaven and another lyrically strong Gilmore cut. The vocals at the song's close are simply spine tingling. Only time will tell if ‘Small World Turning’ will rank in the top three of Thea Gilmore’s body of work but right now it’s the one to go for; by glancing over her shoulder Gilmore has made a topical statement and reinforced the opinion that there really are few of her contemporaries who come close.

Track Listing:-

1 Mockingbird
2 Cutteslowe Walls
3 Glory
4 Don't Dim Your Light for Anyone
5 The Fuse (Let It All Come Down)
6 Karr's Lament
7 Grandam Gold
8 The Revisionist
9 Blowback
10 Shake Off Those Chains
11 The Loading Game
12 Dreamers

Band Links:-

http://www.theagilmore.net/
https://www.facebook.com/theagilmoreof
https://twitter.com/theagilmore
https://www.instagram.com/theagilmore/
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheaGilmo