Album Review for Sean Taylor – Live In London – Released Independently via Sean Taylor Songs.
The intimate, iconic venue of Green Note in Camden provides the setting for this live album which represents the pinnacle of Sean’s musical achievements after two decades as a road warrior. The troubadour walks onto the stage, welcomes his family, friends and fans and launches straight into Heaven with its trademark fingerpicking, mesmeric strings’ accompaniment and hushed vocal tones.
Texas Boogie hits that groove instantly and is a perfect tribute to the blues greats, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The political activist Taylor’s wrath is expressed in This Is England, a spoken word stream with evocative guitar accompaniment exploring life today and English identity in this broken society; “Write me a jingle with a million hooks, WhatsApp me Mr Shakespeare ain’t no time for your books.”
The blues-infused mantra of Hold On highlights the peace and justice campaigner’s songwriting acumen. Sean’s blues hero Skip James is acknowledged, with an innovative interpretation of Hard Time Killing Floor Blues followed by the beautiful ballad, The Only Good Addiction Is Love.
Another highlight, So Fine, with its dazzling guitar intro and funky rhythm, is one of Taylor’s finest compositions, the lyrics reminiscent of Paul Simon at his peak. Stand Up, with its anguished vocals, piercing harmonica and stomping backing is a reminder that Taylor has a social conscience, strong beliefs and genuinely cares about austerity, global environmental issues, injustices and corruption.
The audience demands an encore so Sean obliges with two instrumentals, Basho and Anji before ending with the aptly named Hit The Road Jack. This brilliant compilation confirms Taylor as one of the most influential musicians of his generation.
Album Review by THE BISHOP
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