OOR
Magazine (Holland) - 1975 90%
Sex Tim
Buckley Look At The Fool (Discreet DS 2201)
By
Bert van de Kamp (translated
from Dutch by Hans Kerkhof. English version edited 2008) It
seems that interest in Tim Buckley is increasing.
Probably that's because he is touring again after a long time, and he was here
this summer for a pop festival, where he surprised with a very vital and intense
set. Back
then he was not in the mood to talk about his new album - the only thing he would
let out was that the title would be Tijuana Moon. After all this seems
not to be correct. The reason for the title change is not known, although the
nicely painted cover matches both titles.
Buckley
is a great talent as a songwriter and as an musician, in which his voice is the
most important instrument. What he can do with his voice is incredible. His large
range and enormous suppleness is striking. Yet
his voice leads to many contradictions. To many people, his vocals are a continual
source of annoyance. Those people won't have to listen to Look at the Fool,
although, in my opinion, they miss a lot, because this ninth album of Buckley's
contains a lot of beautiful music. It
is simply the best Buckley album for many years. After discoveries in folk, jazz,
or in ethno-musical parts (Starsailor) on his last album - Sefronia
- Tim went to the direction of black music, funk. This continues on his new album,
but a new interest can be heard, Latin-American rhythms. I
can't remember any pop-musician like Buckley who has engaged in so many styles
- every record is completely different from the last. Also a name to be mentioned
is Joe Falsia, who is responsible for the excellent production and takes care
of some monumental guitar-playing.
'The
music is boiling and swings like hell, and again Tim sings the stars from heaven
in songs which relate to sex for at least 90% of the time..." | The
musicians on this record are known from Tim's festival gig: on bass, Jim Fielder
(ex-Blood, Sweat & Tears, ex-Buffalo Springfield); on piano, Mark Tiernan;
on drums, Earl Palmer... There are many horns and on each track there is a good
background choir: Vanetta Fields, Clydie King and Shirley Matthews. The
music is boiling and swings like hell, and again Tim sings the stars from heaven
in songs which relate to sex for at least 90% of the time. "I don't know
why you bring my sex alive..." sings Tim at the beginning of Helpless,
one of the best songs on the record. And
in Bring It On Up he sings, I'm talking about tongue to tongue,
woman, about belly to belly, darling. Very good music on this record,
my friends. Tijuana Moon, Mexicali Voodoo, and Down In The Street
are the highlights. But
all your admiration probably depends to Tim's voice. When it irritates you, forget
it all, but you are missing out on a lot!
OOR
is a Dutch music magazine
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