Bernard Butler
Friends & Lovers
Creation
Bernard Butler's second solo long player is almost flawless. Bold,
unfettered, led by simple strong riffs and freefalling melodies. The
voice roars and whispers alternately, desperate to show you the fire in
his soul but wary of scaring you away.
Title track Friends & Lovers stands out at once, a classy, stylish
rock'n'roll track without any of the pretensions that might be assumed
with style. Similarly, I'd Do It Again If I Could is a funky, rhythmic
track with a distinctive sweeping organ flushed through it. You Must Go
On is a triumphant, rousing song with an impassioned cry for release.
Let's Go Away has a contagious chorus that will stay with you for hours.
Cocoon, No Easy Way Out and Has Your Mind Got Away are more reflective
and soothing but continue the ardent, fiery theme of the album. Dreamy
but tender and yearning.
Everyone I Know Is Falling Apart is the most introspective track on the
album besides the quietly confused nature of Precious. "Everyone I know
is falling apart, I know I'll be the last" Butler sings, confident of
his own strength but resigned to fate.
Sadly, Friends & Lovers has its failings; Smile and What Happened To Me
falling short of the general high standard. On the whole though, a rather
special album. The quality songs effortlessly outnumber the
disappointments, leaving a rich and glorious feeling lingering in your
veins.
Strongly recommended.
9/10 Maddie Cross
Album Reviews
The Music Bar