Barry Adamson – The Negro Inside Me

This album, picked up second hand long ago, claims to be an EP, but as it weighs in at something over half an hour, it's not the shortest thing considered here, so it's an album to me.

I've long enjoyed Barry Adamson's work, right from his Magazine and Bad Seed days, and I've picked up a lot of his solo stuff, and some is very good indeed. One features among the 5* ratings on this blog, which regular readers will know, aren't handed out lightly (I think it's only 29 out of the 660 or so albums so far reviewed).

Sadly, this one won't be joining it, as much of the music here feels quite nondescript. Adamson's known for film style music (as well as film music). The Snowball Effect has a lively Hammond Organ start, followed by the sinister Dead Heat. Busted is pleasant and atmospheric but not much more, similarly, Gold Black Peach. There's a slightly reggaefied version of Serge Gainsbourg's Je T'Aime ...Moi Non Plus, probably the low point on the disc, and it's completed by A Perfectly Natural Union, a very gentle and enjoyable comedown to end this set of songs.

The pieces have grown a bit more on second (recent) listening, but this isn't one of Adamson's strongest sets.

Link to album tracks

3* - a decent set of tunes, without really over impressing