Rupert Wates - Elegies
by Julie Cruickshank
published: 5 / 12 / 2023
Label:
Bute Music
Format: CD
intro
Exquisite new album from folk guitarist and singer-songwriter Rupert Wates.
Rupert Wates, born in London and now based in New York City, has released his twelfth album, ‘Elegies’ in the wake of his success last year with the acclaimed ‘For the People’. A virtuoso folk guitarist, Wates has based many of the songs in ’Elegies’ on classical and Romantic texts. The album opens with ‘If I Ran To You’, an impressive aureole of bright, lively finger-picking. ‘Guinevere’ is a sweet exploration of the famous medieval love story; Wates is a fine poet, as his lyrics attest: “Guinevere you are pale and the veil that you wear becomes you ill/I would fain see thee again with your cheeks aflame”. Third track ‘The Storm’ has a brooding feel; Wates conjures an impression of swelling and tumbling waves through his guitar. ‘Lady of the Glades’, loosely derived from John Keats’ ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’, features rolling picked chords calling to mind Led Zeppelin’s ‘Bron-y-aur’. ‘Cathy’ strays into waltz time, while ‘(Like) Sunrise’ has a delicacy like dawn breaking: “Still pale is the dawn and wet with dew/ Before the sky is clear”. ‘The Man Who Worked in Clay and Stone’ has hints of jazz; ‘On a Midsummer Morning’ is a wistful elegy to time passing. ‘We’ll Go Dancing’ skips and twirls: “We’ll go dancing through the night/By the ancient city lights”. ‘Across the Water’ has the slight underlying drone of a Scottish traditional tune. Final track ‘Winter’ is a song of endings and a fitting coda to a wonderful album. Rupert Wates recorded the whole of ‘Elegies’ in a single day, accompanied on double bass by Trifon Dimitrov. A true troubadour indeed, Rupert Wates' astonishing talents as a guitarist and singer-songwriter are showcased to perfection in this elegant and graceful set of songs.
Track Listing:-
1 If I Ran To You2 Guinevere
3 The Storm
4 Lady Of The Glades
5 Cathy
6 Like Sunrise
7 The Man Who Worked In Clay And Stone
8 On A Midsummer Morning
9 We'll Go Dancing
10 Across The Water
11 Winter
Band Links:-
https://rupertwatesmusic.comhttps://www.facebook.com/rwatesmusic
Play in YouTube:-
Have a Listen:-
interviews |
Interview (2022) |
US-based but London-born folk artist tkes to Julie Cruikshank about his new solo album, 'For the People'. |
bandcamp
reviews |
For The People (2022) |
Enchanting album of original folk songs from US-based London guitarist and singer Rupert Wates. |
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Secret Shine - Interview
Liam Gallagher and John Squire - Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 16/3/2024
Sami Sumner - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadKula Shaker - Natural Magick
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart