There can be two ways to grasp an album. One to take the
feeling it evokes at face level or on the other hand get your thinking caps on
and explore its deep crevices. If you take the wise option to acquaint yourself
with the new Luke Tuchscherer album, both approaches will reap dividends. The
surface content of ALWAYS BE TRUE rips through a soundtrack of balanced roots
rock taking its influence from country, Americana and the sound of the suburbs
for those of a certain age. However this highly palatable presence is only the
start of mining the true worth of a singer-songwriter equally adept at firing
up the ballads alongside outright rockers.
The background to Luke’s second solo release since his decision
to predominately pursue a route away
from his band The Whybirds was a tie up with Clubhouse Records. Having a small
prior understanding of both parties leads to a conclusion of this being a
strong fit and its wider infrastructure should reap greater rewards. The
crowdfunding process was in place to get the record initially financed and the
finished product is gift wrapped to all those who have believed in Luke.
Being greeted by the sonic delights of the production
melding in a melange of stringed instrumentation gets exploring this album
underway in fine style with greater riches lying for those prepared to exert a
little more thought. Structurally the album rolls out as the proverbial game of
two halves in an intended bout of symmetrical planning. Surely with a nod to
the vinyl listener, two distinctive blocks of five tracks unravel with cyclical
tendencies. Tracks #1 and #6 act out the role of the upbeat opener, while #5
and #10 certainly have a concluding feel to them.
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| Luke at the Maverick Festival |
Delve deeper into the lyrical mind of Luke’s songs and
further patterns emerge to furnish this album with greater appreciation. The
first half takes a very philosophical stance stoked by an essence of realism.
There is definite optimism to opener ‘Waiting
for My Day to Come’, although slightly mooted with frustration. The virtual
side one ends on a melancholic note with ‘When
the Dream Dies’. The tempo of both these numbers also resembles the mood.
Out of the three other songs sandwiched between the two aforementioned ones ‘Outside, Looking In’ is the pick based
on its general feel and the impressive way that bitterness is conveyed via the
lyrics. ‘Don’t Put Me Out’ and ‘These Lonesome Blues’ also show that not
a single track has been wasted, either musically or lyrically.
The second half of this neatly planned ten track collection
seems to focus on the micro especially with two of the numbers being
name-explicit. The album title is extracted from a line in ‘Be True’ which in turn also acts as the
conduit into this phase of the record. It is also an upbeat number in the same
mold as the album opener and strengthens the overall feel of the music as we
reach the midway point. ‘Amanda Jane’
is the first of the named tracks and a person clearly close to the writer’s heart –
reality or in character. ‘A Song for Jack
Brown’ rolls out as a tribute piece to a late friend and its acoustic feel successfully
closes the album in a reflective and mournful mode. This is real life music, no
holds barred. ‘’Love Don’t Come Easy’
and ‘No One Did it Like Us’ also take
the writing down a direct personal route, while ensuring the entire quality
sound of this record possesses a seamless appeal.
There is a strong element of balancing the dream with
reality in the writing of Luke Tuchscherer or perhaps put it differently, a
solid bond between the attainable and utopia. Meaningful songs expressing
explicit desires adorn his work akin with a general feel that these tunes are
equally at home in a live context where the rockers can rock and ballads can
weep. ALWAYS BE TRUE frames an artist in control, earning every inch of their
crust and repaying the faith presented to them. Ultimately Luke Tuchscherer
makes damn good music and has been a pleasure to discover over the course of
his two solo albums.
www.luketuchscherer.co.uk
