Lucky Strikes: The Exile and the Sea (CD on Harbour Song)

Band: Lucky Strikes
Label: Harbour Song
Title: The Exile and the Sea

Review (1)	Release Details	Add Release	Releases (2)	Articles (0)
Cover Art (1)	Versions (0)	Edit Release	Releases List (2)	Reviews (2)
Pictures (0)			Summary (0)	Related (3)
			Jukebox (2)	List All (5)

Band:Lucky Strikes
Title:The Exile and the Sea
Reviewed By:Malcolm Carter
Date Published:31/10/2013

Label:Harbour Song
Format:CD
Release Year:0
Lookup:

'The Exile and the Sea', the fourth album from the Essex-based the Lucky Strikes, continues in the vein of their previous releases in that it’s a concept album of sorts, but this time the band have abandoned tales set in the Southern States of America as on their last two albums for something a little more closer to their hearts and home; the songs on ‘The Exile and the Sea’ were written after the band searched through the archives of local newspapers and journals drawing on the history of the Thames Estuary for their latest batch of songs.

Not surprisingly there is a more British and homegrown sound to the songs that make up ‘The Exile and the Sea’. That’s not to say that the band have completely deserted the Americana feel of their previous albums. Close your eyes and the music these Essex boys on this album make can still just about evoke memories of The Band, but there is a distinctly British sound woven into their music now. Traditional English and Celtic folk music play a large part in the make-up of the eleven original songs here. At a push the Waterboys would have to be mentioned as purveyors of a similar sound and feel at times, but really this is a collection of songs where the Lucky Strikes consolidate all of their past influences to produce a fresh slant on their music and in doing so have made their best album to date.

Frontman Matthew Boulter has always had a distinctive, emotive voice but on ‘The Exile and the Sea’ Boulter’s vocals sound even more heartfelt; as early as the second track, ‘The Beast Burnt Down’, where the band recall the night that fire destroyed much of Southend Pier in October 2005. It’s clear that over the course of not only the Lucky Strikes albums, but also through his solo albums Boulter has matured as a singer and is now the possessor of one of our most expressive voices. The songs, as well-crafted as they are, would be less effective without a singer of Boulder’s class.

To prove the point that Boulder can tackle any vocal demand and win, in the following song, ‘The Exile and the Sea’, Boulder’s vocals are pitched slightly higher than usual complementing the haunting quality of this title song perfectly. The atmosphere conjured up by this song brings images of mothers grieving for their sons lost to the waters along the coast, again showing just how powerful the songs on this set are.

There are songs that will set more than your toes tapping, ‘New Avalon’ just one of the songs to benefit from Wild Jim Wilson’s fiddle playing, even at just under three minutes, seems to end far too soon, and despite the ill-fated relationship as detailed in ‘The Butcher and Mrs. Shaw’ the music is still uplifting.

Though every one of the eleven songs could be singled out for special attention the one song that immediately stood out was ‘Ballet Shoes’. What can only be described as a gorgeous melody with Wilson’s fiddle now evoking tears instead of happiness, the narrator takes a backwards glance as Boulter turns in a stunning and his most English vocal performance to date. It really is a moving performance from all concerned.

Far from the collection of sea-shanties the title and subject matter might fool you into believing ‘The Exile and the Sea’ would be (although tracks such as ‘Goldspring’ could certainly be classed as one), there is enough diversity displayed throughout the album to keep the most restless listener interested. ‘The Exile and the Sea’ isn’t just another fine collection of songs from one of the UK s most underrated bands. It’s a career best and surely the album that is going to introduce The Lucky Strikes to a far wider audience than they’ve captured before.

Track Listing:

01) To Be King
02) The Beast Burnt Down
03) The Exile and the Sea
04) New Avalon
05) The Butcher and Mrs Shaw
06) Ballet Shoes
07) Goldspring
08) The Devil Knows Yourself
09) Vincent
10) The Ghost and the Actress
11) The Writer

First Previous Next Last

Related Links

http://www.theluckystrikes.co.uk/discography
https://twitter.com/theluckystrikes
https://www.facebook.com/TheLuckyStrikesOfficial
https://www.youtube.com/user/LuckyStrikesVideos

Commenting On: The Exile and the Sea by Lucky Strikes

Header

Comment:

Your Name

Your Location ie London, England

tick box before submitting comment

First Previous Next Last

Related Bands (edit)
Duke and the King Lucky Strikes Whispering Pines

Related Labels
Harbour Song Stovepony Records

Review Header

Fabulous fourth album and concept record of sorts from underrated Essex-based Americana act the Lucky Strikes, which draws on the history of the Thames Estuary

Articles A-Z
View All				A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K
L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

The Exile and the Sea - CD
Fabulous fourth album and concept record of sorts from underrated Essex-based Americana act the Lucky Strikes, which draws on the history of the Thames Estuary

Gabriel, Forgive Me My 22 Sins - CD
Eclectic Americana on concept third album from Southend-on-Sea based band, the Lucky Strikes, about once promising real life boxer Frank Valentinez who after throwing a fight slid into drug addiction, alcholosim and crime

First Previous Next

Reviews A-Z
View All				A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K
L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

Duke and the King:Scala, London, 22/11/2009
Anthony Middleton is impressed by rising Americana act the Duke and the King's infectious brand of Americana at show at the Scala in London

First Previous Next Last