7 October 2018
''Our almost-instinct almost there:
What will survive of us is love."
Philip Larkin, 1974.
"Love is all there is,
It makes the world go 'round."
Bob Dylan, 1969.
Passivity pervades 'Frank and Dolores', the new seven-track CD from Ian Ravenscroft.
It is, undeniably, a love album, an ode to romance, all roses, no thorns in sight. Filled with yearning the songs are heartfelt, melodic and unashamedly romantic. Ravenscroft chooses to celebrate an all-too-brief love affair rather than carry out a musical autopsy over what or who went wrong. And amidst the love-fest there are some cracking tunes.
Proceedings kick off on a 'Mariposa Morning', a country-folk number with a James Taylor-vibe and a rather lovely, lilting melody.
The stately 'A Place To Fall in Love' is followed by 'Loving You is Beautiful', reminiscent of the gentle country waltzes John Prine and Roger Cook specialised in during their productive mid-eighties Nashville songwriting partnership. It's a strolling on the beach, whistling in the wind, swaying from side-to-side delight.
The piano-led 'An Open Door' is a contender for the album's highlight, a killer hook nestled nicely in a lovely pared-down arrangement, while the hymn-like 'Someone Else Who Loves You' is punctuated by a fine harmonica solo.
An air of contented resignation hangs over the penultimate track, 'A Peaceful Place', with 'Frank' praying it's 'not too late' for a late-life reunion with his missing muse.
'Frank and Dolores' closes the album.
Almost 16 minutes in length, it is, in truth, a long ride, tracing in forensic-detail two lovers music-laden road trip.
Happily, it's worth hitching a ride on, if only for the stellar rhyme:
"Frank was undecided, in Gruhn Guitars,
that sinker mahogany quad O, had him seeing stars."
that sinker mahogany quad O, had him seeing stars."
'Frank and Dolores' is easy listening, but in the best sense.
Dolores should be proud.
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