Ian M. Bailey - You Paint The Pictures

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 20 / 3 / 2023

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Review

Any time you see the names of Ian M Bailey or Daniel Wylie (Cosmic Rough Riders) on a record you know you are in for a melodic treat and ‘You Paint The Pictures’, the second album from Bailey on the Kool Kat Musik label, is no exception. Th eleven new songs are all co-writes between Bailey and Wylie and it’s a case of if it isn’t broken then don’t fix it. Absolutely gorgeous, infectious melodies abound, Bailey’s 12-string Rickenbacker jangling through on many of the tracks and his warm vocals floating above it all make for nearly an hour spent in musical heaven. It’s been noted so many times before when discussing Bailey’s music that those who appreciate The Byrds, Beatles, R.E.M and bands of that ilk are going to find much to love in his albums. But Bailey and Wylie are so much more than mere copyists. Tracks such as the instrumental ‘The Year Of The Tiger’ and ‘I Don’t Want To Start Again’ certainly bring back memories of McGuinn and company at their psych-pop best and are going to prove to be as timeless as those Byrds classics turned out to be, but for all their looking over their shoulders at the ‘60s the duo have used that decade as a starting block to build on. Every song sounds so fresh ; despite bringing to mind your favourite West Coast folk/rock band you’ll find yourself digging into both Bailey’s and Wylie’s previous work rather than reaching for ‘Forever Changes’ or ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’. Recorded and produced at Bailey’s Small Space Studios in Preston during the first half of 2022, and with Bailey providing all the vocals and the majority of the instruments (Alan Gregson plays pedal steel on one song and contributes Hammond organ to another while also composing and performing the string arrangements on two tracks), you’d be forgiven to think that this collection might possibly be a lo-fi affair. It’s not. The production is not muddy, it’s crystal clear and the whole album emits a warmth which just wraps these gorgeous songs around the listener like a favourite winter blanket. There is a lovely dreamy tone to Bailey’s vocals which only adds to the journey these songs take the listener on. While at times Bailey’s vocals have an early Roger McGuinn timbre on other tracks David Crosby and even Gene Clark come to mind, he really can sound like a one-man Byrds. But then on ‘Lover’s Song’ with Bailey’s heavenly, delicate vocals floating above Alan Gregson’s weeping pedal steel all thoughts of other vocalists, or even songwriters, fade ; this is pure Ian M Bailey (with a dash of Daniel Wylie!) showing that for all his influences he has his own vision. The closing song, ‘Sitting In Silence’, is a reflective acoustic song which actually leaves the listener pondering over a number of things in their own life…in silence. It’s a brilliant way to end the album ; the opening ‘Paint The Pictures’ displays an edgier direction than we are accustomed to when listening to Bailey but it’s not long before his 12-string and those famous harmonies make an appearance to remind us who we are listening to and from there Bailey throws in a number of surprises but nothing prepared the listener for that closing song. The melodies to songs like ‘I Wanted The Sun To Shine’ are addictive; for all the Byrdsian jangle and Bailey’s dream-like vocals, tunes like this will haunt the listener long after the album ends. ‘Dreams Of Love’ shows Bailey at his most experimental, it’s almost as if David Crosby was still with us. While his vocals are hardly Jim Morrison -like, ‘Brazil’ echoes The Doors just to remind us that it’s not just one band that has influenced Bailey and Wylie. For those familiar with Bailey’s work this latest album will just reinforce what you already know, that he’s an underrated, brilliant musician. For those new to his music ‘You Paint The Pictures’ is a good place to start. It highlights all that makes Bailey’s songs so special. For lovers of well-constructed folk/pop/rock, there’s not a tune here that will disappoint.

Track Listing:-

1 Paint The Pictures
2 I Wanted The Sun To Shine
3 The Year Of The Tiger
4 I Don't Want To Start Again
5 Dreams Of Love
6 Brazil
7 Life Without You
8 Hey Little Girl
9 Change Is Easy
10 Lovers Song
11 Sitting In Silence

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/Ianbaileymusi
https://twitter.com/ianbaileymusic2?la

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