Reg Meuross - Songs about a Train

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 15 / 4 / 2018

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Review

Not the third in the proposed trilogy of albums from Somerset-based singer-songwriter Reg Meuross which started with ‘December’ and progressed with the political ‘Faraway People’ but more of a companion piece to 2011’s ‘The Dreamed and the Drowned’ which was a collection of songs that had been recorded between 2006 and 2011 but never made the final selection on the albums Reg released during that period. ‘Songs about a Train’ is another compilation of so far unreleased songs from 2013 to 2017 and once again is a limited edition run. One thing is certain; these eleven songs did not make the final choice on the albums Reg released during this period because they were considered sub-standard in any way. Although we have no details as to why they never made the final cut at the time the songs on ‘Songs about a Train’ could well have been released as a new Reg Meuross album and few, if any, would have had reason to complain or would even realise that these were ‘rejected’ songs. The simple fact is that an original Reg Meuross song that the singer-songwriter considers doesn’t fit in on his current project for whatever reason is still going to be a interesting and rewarding experience for the listener, and which can only offer the question why wasn’t it released at the time? As these songs were written over a period of some five years they don’t have a continuing theme like the political one Reg carried on his last ‘proper’ album, ‘Faraway People,’ and for the most part the songs are shorn of any outside embellishments, the exception being the opening song, ‘Letting Go’, which features Rabbit Bundrick on keyboards, Simon Edwards on bass and Roy Dodds on drums; all other songs are 100% Reg Meuross and, although never bare because of Reg’s warm vocals, are stripped-back affairs. ‘Songs about a Train’ should not be considered a collection of outtakes or anything similar. It should really be approached as a new collection of songs from Reg Meuross which is exactly what the album is; any one of these songs could find a place on an earlier Reg Meuross album, and we can only be thankful that Reg has now seen fit to let the songs out to his audience for there are some little gems here that might not have seen the light of day. We’ve labeled Reg as a master storyteller in the past and there is nothing on this collection that would make us take back those words. In fact there’s plenty to reinforce that claim. ‘Martin’ finds Reg telling the tale of St. Martin Of Tours in his own familiar way, finding a way of making history interesting through his words, gentle yet authoritive voice and compelling melodies. Classic Reg Meuross in other words and a mystery as to why it never made it to the running order of an album until now. Likewise the chilling ‘The Angel Maker’ explores the crimes of Amelia Dyer a serial killer who allegedly took the lives of hundreds of infants in the 1800s. This song alone confirms that Reg is a master storyteller; as chilling and unbelievable as it is Reg still makes it compelling listening. I’ve not heard Amelia Dyer called an angel maker before but even that title marks Reg out as being one of our most special talents. Looking down the list of song titles many are familiar but all the songs on the album are Reg Meuross originals. ‘I Understand’ will strike a chord with so many, Reg and his guitar talking us through the break-up of a relationship putting into words what so many have felt but couldn’t articulate; if only they had Reg around or his songs to hand. ‘We Haven’t Started Yet’ is another love gone wrong song, “Broken glass, a rainy night/Someone leaving by the back porch light/These are the sounds I won’t forget/We haven’t started yet” opens the song; the pictures Reg paints with his lyrics are so vivid. ‘Ring the Living Bell’ would have slotted nicely onto Reg’s ‘December’ album and, come the end of 2018, will no doubt still be played although right now with snow falling in March this song of hope is still affecting. If you’re a fan of Reg Meuross you’ll already have your hands on this limited edition (only 1,000 being pressed). For those yet to be touched by possibly the best of our current crop of storytellers ‘Songs about a Train’ is a good place to start.

Track Listing:-

1 Letting Go
2 We Haven't Started Yet
3 Little Acts of Vengeance
4 Martin
5 The Angel Maker
6 Songs About a Train
7 A Quiet Night
8 I Understand
9 Idaho
10 Ring the Living Bell
11 The World Being the World

Band Links:-

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

Label Links:-

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