Black - Blind Faith

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 12 / 8 / 2015

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Review

As Black, Liverpool-based singer-songwriter Colin Vearncombe has released more then ten studio albums but remains most famous for the album and single 'Wonderful Life'. The single was originally released via Ugly Man Records in Manchester in 1986 and was initally an indie hit, but when Vearncombe signed to major label A & M they chose to re-release it the following year and it and 'Sweetest Smile', another single from that album, became hugh Top 10 hits. 'Blind Faith' was recorded with his new musical partner of recent years, Calum MacColl,(son of Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl, and brother of Kirsty). The album is rich in textures and is a million miles from 'Wonderful Life', which told of Colin's divorcee and is a song really about everything but a wonderful life, but remained misunderstood until the yuppie culture of the late 1980s turned Colin's fortunes around. 'Blind Faith' was funded by PledgeMusic, and is about the various stages of love in all its shapes and forms. 'The Love Show' kicks the album off with a jazz-style smooth-as-silk vocal from Colin and strings worthy of Robert Kirby (of Nick Drake fame). It is as charming and beautiful. 'Don't Call Me Honey' is funky and fast, a song to make you move and very unlike the Black that many people will know. 'Good Liar' has lush production, and, a slow burner, features layers of strings and is more like old school Black. 'Sleep Together' recalls Cousteau with its seductive backing and rich Scott Walker vocals. On 'Womanly Panther' Colin comes across like a scouse Leonard Cohen, and it again features layer upon layer of heavy strings. 'Who You Are?' is slow and again absolutely charming, while 'Sunflower' is piano-based. 'Not the Man' traces the lines of Lee Hazlewood but is also brassy and loud. 'Ashes of Angels' once again has the feel of modern Cohen, but is upbeat and happy. 'Stone Soup' is more reflective, a song about moving on, a goodbye note in song form. 'When It's Over' is poetic in tone, and, with its perfect words spoken gently, again features lush Kirby-style strings. 'Beautiful' is as fragile as thin glass, while 'Parade', which ends the album, is the only jangly track here and pop number. A fine return.

Track Listing:-

1 The Love Show
2 The Love Show
3 Good Liar
4 Sleep Together
5 Womanly Panther
6 Who You Are
7 Sunflower
8 Not the Man
9 Ashes of Angels
10 Stone Soup
11 When It's Over
12 Beautiful
13 Parade

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/blackakacolin
http://www.colinvearncombe.com/
https://twitter.com/cvblack

Label Links:-

http://www.neroschwarz.com/about/