1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 3

politic message to be gleaned from the songs, here Sullivan is content to be merely poetic, an art which he has mastered very effectively. It is in this opening number that we also meet a common theme of the album, the sea. Again in his own words

"Well, at least half the album is made up of songs about the sea. I have always loved being by, on, or in the ocean. I think it's partly the sense of infinite space (as I also love deserts and being at the top of mountains, while I don't really like the closed-in feeling of being in forests) but it's also a visual thing - the movement and never-ending play of water and light is the most beautiful and inspiring sight that I know. "

It's a theme that is at the forefront of the next two tracks the folk styled story of Blue Ship and the other single, Ocean Rising. The former is a laid back number sitting comfortably along side the opening track, but the later moves the album into new territory. A rising threat of music is created through a swell of rhythm guitars and a mass of keyboard and string arrangements that build to breaking point in the background to eventually dominate the entire piece. Sentry is a darker and simpler affair, mainly one man and his guitar driving onwards, creating, as Kerrang Magazine described it, music that is both "poignant yet understated" In fact understated is the important factor here, there is a space and restraint that creates an atmosphere and mood that a fuller delivery would fail to capture in quite the same way. The subtle orchestration leaves the voice as the focal point of the songs, and Sullivan has always been someone worth listening to, a grass roots spokesman for the issues of the ordinary man, reflective, worldly wise, slightly weary but full of hope.

Tales of the Road is much more in the vein of NMA, small meaningful stories of life on the road, even the pace of the song is different from what has come before, funky guitar licks and a shuffling snare set a groove for the lyrics and a wailing harmonica to hang on. The harmonica is played by regular NMA contributor Mark Feltham and indeed many of the NMA extended family are present on the tracks as well as a number of less than obvious choices, such as music legend Danny Thompson on upright bass and Ty Unwin, a man normally associated with TV and film scores. A life spent travelling is distilled into a few snapshots of the nomadic lifestyle. Travelling is a constant theme here also and even though on the surface there are obvious

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Album reviews: Navigating by the Stars, by Justin Sullivan?
We want to hear your view. Write now!