The second long awaited release by Robert Vincent is now cut
in all its splendour and well set to repay the faith that has been shown in him
from various quarters in the music industry. I’LL MAKE THE MOST OF MY SINS
unveils itself as a distinguished album formed by a tough exterior masking a
sensitive core. Two homes have emerged in recent times to house the music of
Robert Vincent with the integral one being the increased emergence of Americana
as an established genre in the UK. The fit is ideal from the perspective of the
primed fusion between rock, alt-country and folk, all in a sphere where the
craft of song writing rules the waves. This enamoured collection of tunes soaks
up the substance of the recent past to signpost where music of this ilk can
progress to in the future.
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| Robert at Maverick 2016 |
The second home is South Coast based label At The Helm
Records which has extended their faith in Robert’s music and dual promoted this
album release with their US partners Last Chance Records. This predominately
ten track album (a short forty second instrumental opens the record effectively
making it eleven) occasionally sways between introspective acoustic mode and
full on amplification with the former probably closest to defining the sound. However
making an immediate stab at the most memorable song is the irrepressible ‘So in Love’, fully stocked with rock
chills, arena ambience and an ear candy like slide solo. If you’re intent on
seeking out a contemporary influence, think Jason Isbell. Going into the
further throes of the musical sound vault there are shades of the seventies
singer-songwriter rock acts especially in an imposing vocal style and a
frequent drift into ballad territory.
Other key components of this finely tuned release include
the tasty ‘Dancing with Devils’ – a song
that has previously emerged as one of the promotional numbers in the lengthy
run up to the album launch – and the comprehensive title track revealing ‘I’ll Make The Most of My Sins’ as a
sensitive anthem packed with piano, harmony spiced chorus, further organ and
the inevitable staple guitar solo. Elsewhere traces of harmonica add to the
folk rock edge and a touch of twang is never too far away.
This blended approach has helped the record succeed in its
various phase moods and while it emerges as a centre ground release, its basis
is of substantive elements. Inevitably there is a core target audience who will
lap up the merits of this album which is also tinged with breakout credentials
should it venture further afield. Robert Vincent is a gifted song writer making
music that will resonate well with the cultured ear. I’LL MAKE THE MOST OF MY
SINS is a record with plenty of legs to last the tough race of gathering
deserved accolades and ultimately possessing the potential to head towards
viable status.