Graham Parker and The Rumour - Mystery Glue

  by Lisa Torem

published: 19 / 6 / 2015

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Review

Graham Parker and The Rumour became famous for live performance in the mid= 1970s and for their imaginative but hard to pinpoint sound. After three decades disbanded, Graham Parker, Bob Andrews, Brinsley Schwarz, Martin Belmont, Andre Bodnar and Stephen Goulding came back together in 2011 for 2012's 'Three Chords Good' and major touring. They return now with the dozen tunes of Mystery Glue. At the helm of these recordings stands British songwriter Graham Parker, who has enjoyed praise from the likes of Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and Bruce Springsteen. His solo career alone yielded 25 albums. But, you say, what does the title of the new release mean? In essence, Parker claims that it is mystery glue that binds the particles of the universe together, not dark matter, not astro turf, not some sci-fi intangible. And if you really want to know what magical ingredient makes the Milky Way work, listen to Parker’s lyrics and amazing musicality. He has a way of lacing together drama, angst, politics, rhyme schemes and crusty vocals that give folks like Dylan and The Boss a breathless run for the money. “She can’t fail to catch your eye,” Parker sings in ‘Transit of Venus’. This detailed character study is fleshed out with delightful instrumental riffs, clanky strumming and effusive organ. Imagery like “sunset red” is blindingly beautiful in ‘Going There’. ‘Wall of Grace’ includes some breathtaking backing vocals and super-charged guitar. Parker displays a dazzling spectrum of emotion on this soulful, could-be-a-Stax ballad. “It’s better than a state of hate” and “Start living in a state of love” are two lyrical gems that highlight ‘Swing State’. Don’t let the carefree vibe belie the poignant, political satire. ‘Slow New Day’ contains whimsical prose and boasts early Brit rock appeal. “Even the crazy radicals stayed away,” Parker sings, with grit and confidence. ‘Railroad Spikes’ is an every man song with powerful insights and pop culture intelligence. It speaks of Pullman cars and locomotive machinations. “Henry Ford had other plans?The final blow was the automobile.” Pay heed to the palpable interaction between Parker’s vocals and the meaty fills. There are more satisfying and lovely instrumental fills in ‘Flying into London’. Here the narrator expresses confusion and dismay about getting off the plane and facing reality. “I might as well be landing on Mars.” Parker is at his vocal best on ‘Pub Crawl’. His exciting acrobatics will make you pine for a pint at your local saloon. The message is clear as a bell in ‘I’ve Done Bad Things’. The electric backsplash is fronted with sassy, brilliant repartee and genuinely original phrasing. ‘Fast Crowd’ and ‘Long Shot’ don’t mince words. Parker makes very efficient use of his lyrics here. If you’re not lucky enough to achieve your dreams, the latter will remind you that you’re in good company, so keep those odds in mind. ‘My Life in Movieland’ is bittersweet and reflective. “I starred in Zuckerman and stole the show,” Parker wistfully recalls. “The red carpet looks so grand but burns my feet.” Show biz is not all it’s cracked up to be, but at least they can’t hold your memories at gunpoint. Graham Parker has a distinctive way of telling an effective story. He infuses charm, humour and irony into the narrative and even rubs some salt in his own wounds. And The Rumour is a tight, tight band, a superb pallet for his splatters of thought. Phil Lynott had this to say: “He’s a prolific songwriter. His stuff really grows on you.” It does and it leaves you wanting for more.

Track Listing:-

1 Transit Of Venus
2 Going There
3 Wall Of Grace
4 Swing State
5 Slow News Day
6 Railroad Spikes
7 Flying Into London
8 Pub Crawl
9 I've Done Bad Things
10 Fast Crowd
11 Long Shot
12 My Life In Movieland

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/GrahamParkerO
https://twitter.com/itsgrahamparker