(Emerge)
Herald rating: * * * *
Review: Graham Reid
This is a long overdue album by Clarke, one of Kiwi rock's fire-eating journeymen who's also an actor and recently appeared on the undercard at Dean Lonergan's charity boxing event. (Clarke won his bout.)
The harmonica-playing, big-voiced Clarke was a mainstay in the Backdoor Blues Band and the late Mike Farrell produced and played guitar on this exceptionally fine collection of a dozen co-written roots rock, r'n'b and blues-tinged originals.
With a terrific band of Richard Te One (drums), Tim Wedde (piano, Hammond organ) and Daryn Karaitiana (bass), Clarke offers some memorable ballads, and lyrics which are evocative and full of engaging metaphors. Guests include guitarist Derek Lind, Brendan Power (harmonica), with Taisha and former Commodores bassist Ron La Pread on backing vocals.
Outstanding tracks on an album notable for the mature consistency of the writing and playing are the rocking ballad Hell or High Water (with widescreen slide guitar and soulful organ), the thoughtful plea to keep the child alive within the man (That's The Way It's Got To Be) and the kickin' country feel of When Your Name is God.
Healing Hands sounds like a meeting of South African slow-shuffle pop and John Hiatt. The gorgeous Once Around the Sun is located somewhere between eerie Ry Cooder slide from Farrell and a kind of Rastafarian nyabinghi percussion from Steve Garden. The result, curiously, is very Pacific.
The strong songwriting and nail-hard musicianship allows Clarke every chance to shine, and the whole is a testament to Farrell's gifts. Recommended.
<i>Ted Clarke:</i> Wildlife
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