King Of Birds
Eve Of Destruction
Valuable Recordings
IF IN an alternative universe REM's Michael Stipe and The Waterboy's Mike Scott were able to defy the laws of nature and produce a child, the resulting progeny could quite possibly sound like Charlie Gorman. The Renfrewshire frontman's gritty, heartfelt voice echoes all the wisdom of lessons learned but avoids the baggage of world weariness. Sceptical yes, cynical no.
Together with lead guitarist brother Stirling and accompanying band, they have created a magnificent set of well-crafted songs for their debut album. The upbeat melody of the McCartney-esque I Hope We Don’t Fall In Love hints more at romance sought rather than spurned, while Tell Me If You See Her exudes the gut-wrenching sense of loss of Blood On The Tracks.
Universal themes of heartbreak and loneliness are not the only source of inspiration, with Down On The Corner and Harvest Time proving they can turn their amps up to 11. Eve Of Destruction is by no means the invention of a new style, but the Gormans have done the next best thing by taking the broad genre of Americana and put their own indelible stamp on it. Although their tunes hark back to the golden age of songwriting, their originality prevents them straying into a nostalgia trip. The Gorman brothers have produced something special here – a highly accomplished record that would not feel out of place tucked between Nashville Skyline and After The Gold Rush in anyone’s collection.
Mark Eadie
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