Ian
Prowse – Compañeros (Learpholl Recordings)
CD
/ DL
23
October 2015
8
/ 10
Merseyside
hero Ian Prowse releases his second solo album.
There’s four songs from Ireland, three
from Liverpool, two English, one Scottish and one Cornish. It’s an album of cover versions that
isn’t. It is, because they’re tracks
written by other artists. It isn’t because
they’re tracks which you probably haven’t heard before. Ian Prowse gives the tracks his own unique
touch and Compañeros is born.
Often sounding like a cross between Dick
Gaughan and close friend Ian McNabb the album is a great listen with tracks
which come from the heart and soul. Following
his striking debut Who Loves Ya Baby from 2014 which spurned the brilliant I
Did It For Love, Prowse has re-interpreted eleven tracks including Name And
Number which appeared on the Sport Of Kings album by his former band Pele.
Kicking off the album with Town And
Country Blues it’s pretty clear that the album is going to be a mixed bag. The song is given slightly more disciplined
than the madcap version from Jim Jiminee and is probably the catchiest thing on
the album as horn and accordion give the song a tremendous lift.
There are gentle moments too in the shape
of single Mississippi Beat (Cousin Jac) performed with Pauline Scanlon of
Lumiere, You Can’t Win The All Mum (The Lost Soul Band) and Eion Glackins What
Am I To You, which are soon smashed away by Derry Goal (Alan Burke) with its
ironic humour and prison life tale.
Johnny And Marie originally performed by
Liverpool’s Up And Running is another lively track which will have you singing
the song long after its ended and the wonderful My Name Is Dessie Warren takes pride
of place. Written and originally recorded
by Alun Parry is tells the story of the 1970s construction worker, who along
with a certain comedian and actor Ricky Tomlinson was imprisoned for allegedly conspiring
to intimidate the then trade union movement.
Closing with over nine minutes of the
revamped Name And Number is an uplifting end to an album which transcends many styles
along the way and celebrates some great songs which have been forgotten over
the last twenty five years.
Links
Ian Prowse/Amsterdam website
Ian Prowse on Twitter
Amsterdam on Facebook
I Did It For Love review
Eoin Glackin album review
Published on Louder Than War 25/10/15 - here
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