Some celebrity deaths resonate more than others, that's only natural. Joe Strummer's passing hurt me, but I wasn't prepared for just how sad I was when Terry Hall died late last year.
I was always an admirer, rather than a lover of his music, but that, combined with the outpouring of love from all quarters knocked me sideways.
I suspect it was more about us losing a thoroughly good and lovely bloke, who had touched so many of us who grew up in the late 1970s and beyond more than his musical legacy. A man who had his own troubles, yet never seemed to let them affect his dealing with others.
This album is a one off collaboration with Mushtaq of Fun-Da-Mental, accompanied by a host of North African musicians, and some assistance from Damon Albarn.
Opening with the drone of a North African wind instrument, Grow moves into an Arabic spoken piece over a tight beat, continuing with an oud (?) theme which is enjoyable and accessible, and Hall first appears on A Gathering Storm, his distinctive vocals lying over a beat that's more Fun Boy Three than Specials, giving a feel that's not too far away from Jah Wobble's Take Me To God from a few years earlier. Ten Eleven continues in a similar vein, Arabic verse with Hall & Albarn joining in on chorus, and so far it's a really interesting blend of musical cultures. Slower and less exciting, Sticks And Stones flows effortlessly as does the longer The Silent Way and A Tale Of Woe.
The Hour Of Two Lights is more gentle and subtle before things liven up with This And That, a lovely chant. The album comes to a conclusion with two much slower Hall songs, the lovely, understated Stand Together, its minimal accompaniment leaving space to enjoy and Epilogue.
This album won't go down in musical history as one of Terry Hall's standout moments, but it shouldn't be written off as just another collaboration with one of the many artists queuing to work with Hall. There's a lot to enjoy on this album, and I will keep coming back.
3* - an interesting fusion of styles, much of which is a rewarding listen.
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