‘A world without art has no hope’ ponders Stephen Simmons on
the last track of his latest album, but fortunately its detachment from reality
is confirmed in the subsequent CD liner notes. In fact Stephen is forever
grateful that he has been able to practise his own art form comprehensively
over a considerable number of years including the last decade both in a
recording capacity and overseas touring act. A WORLD WITHOUT had its US release
last year, with a switch in focus now to European audiences ahead of yet
another visit planned for this spring. For those familiar with Stephen’s work,
the content continues in a similar vein, with a range of tunes springing out
from a singer-songwriter base often in a rock ‘n’ roll direction. Overseas, Stephen will always be aligned to his country music roots especially with a home
base of Nashville and an upbringing in small town Tennessee.
Eleven self-penned tracks form the primary content of this
record following an opening piano prelude composed and played by his band
partner Molly Jewell. She in fact joined Stephen for some house concert dates a
couple of years ago. However his general touring mode especially in the UK is as a
solo artist, although frequently he is joined by the full band, mainly for
dates on continental Europe. Part of the themes that echo on the new record do
call in on the subject of solitude, alongside the perpetual tribulations of
confused love, the wonder of travel and perusing the grey area between fact and
fiction.
Without the necessary insight of song background information
or their associated live stories, the listener can only deduce the relevant
meanings and inspirations. ‘Baby Brother’s
Got A Baby Now’ possesses a strong sense of reality, while ‘West’ assumes a degree of
migration-induced fiction. Elsewhere one can only surmise the love related
origins of ‘Fairy Tales (The Flower’s
Burden)’ and ‘The Music Highway’.
However the expansive musings on ‘Puritan
Cowboy’ could only possibly be of an autobiographical nature. Regardless of
the underlying meanings, each song reaches the listener in fully primed
condition enabling the pleasure of enjoying the content to be a smooth process.
The latter mentioned track, along with an earlier one referencing
part of I-40 linking Nashville with Memphis, are among the album highlights.
Add to this the lovely chorus adorning ‘Silver
Moon Saloon’ and the contemplative nature of the closing track ‘On Top Of a World’ gives you a solid
quartet from which to get to grips with the rest of the album.
Musically the journey mixes the tempo of the tender ballad
with the upbeat rocker and from a performer groomed on the country music icon there
is significant pedal steel, although not over done to make this a shoe-in genre
release. To the contrary it is difficult to pigeon hole this album which is
probably a credit to Stephen’s independent streak.
Stephen Simmons is an artist to whole heartedly believe in.
There are no short cuts or gimmicks and you are led to assume that the long
road will always be taken if it’s the right road. Intelligent, intuitive,
inquisitive and contemplative possibly go a long way to defining his song
writing and it has been a pleasure acquainting oneself with his body of work
over the last few years, both on record and in several live shows attended. A
WORLD WITHOUT is an extension of a principled troubadour re-enacting their artistic
calling and should be marked as a record to check out.
www.stephensimmonsmusic.com
