Album Review: Clay DuBose - Father Time & Mother Nature
Clay DuBose had a rich and influential stint as a fledgling Americana artist in the first phase of a career when the genre took a foothold as a radio format. Life subsequently pulled this Texas-based musician in a different direction enforcing an extended recording hiatus. However pent up talent was not destined to remain suppressed and with the helping hand of versatile Californian Ted Russell Kamp, a brand new full length record is hailing the comeback. An awareness void of DuBose’s previous work is not a barrier to grasping the value of FATHER TIME & MOTHER NATURE. The absence has fired up the songwriting juices and a ravenously good record emerges buoyed by relatable themes and a feel right on the mark of the genre he pioneered from the late 80s onwards.
Nine originals, all co-written with Kamp who also engaged in the production process, and two covers form the rump of content stretching the breadth of personal interaction primarily within the immediacy of family. The songs take the listener on a journey into a shared mind. The sound blends rock and country in true Americana style putting a human story at the heart of lyric driven music.
‘When Heroes Say Goodbye’ kicks the album off with rousing verve. This classy take on nostalgia is awash with great hooks and superbly written with a message as clear as a cloudless sky. The concept of connecting with those special continues in the cleverly constructed ‘Winning Streak’ where popular references intertwine with blissful optimism within a framework of unabated rock ’n’ roll’. Hope and unambiguity define this track. ‘Father Time & Mother Nature’ skirts around life’s fundamentals and is a touch experimental with a lengthy play out. A philosophical slant is conveyed through the line ‘We’re in an hourglass living on a grain of sand’.
Part sadness-part philosophical is the take from ‘Dreams Come Untrue’, a perfectly measured track of raw analysis. The sentiment of the title of ‘I Hope You’re Watching’ is re-enforced through repetition as a lovely lilt coats this ode to a late father. Loss, hope and remembrance are touchingly expressed amidst a hint of twang. ‘Waiting for the Day’ tenderly rocks in the pivotal position in the running order and is slightly more obscure to grasp but in the same reflective channel.
The first cover acts as a resting spot with Kris Kristofferson’s ‘New Game Now’ slowly developing yet still in sync with the album’s identity of deep reflection and love at its core. Upbeat rock returns with ‘Fading Away’ as optimism is replaced by facing up to fears, all part of a relationship cycle. The tempo changes again in ‘Broken Mirror’, which is maybe metaphorical. The track creates a listening space and requires a few plays for this grower to sink in.
The undulating tempo remains in the final two numbers. ‘Growing Wild’ is a harmonica-driven rocker focussing on younger family memories and the joy they bring. The mood is aligned with the albums’s overall persona, though a real curveball brings things to a close as The Kingston Trio’s ‘Scotch & Soda’ is covered. After a couple of listens you realise it plays a part in sealing the intent.
FATHER TIME & MOTHER NATURE portrays life through a songwriter’s lens. It is mission accomplished for Clay DuBose if he set out to connect with the listener by touching hearts and resonating an intimacy of raw interaction and feeling. Emotions sway but ultimately err on a respectful truth and a blessing for what been dealt.
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