From: Pete Fyfe
[petefyfe_at_aol_dot_com]
Sent: 16 February 2012 16:57
Subject: Pete Fyfe review &
sleeve
Attachments: Jim Moray - Skulk.jpg
JIM MORAY - Skulk (NIBL013)
Perhaps its Moray's numerous
tales of brushes with death on previous recordings that inspired him to use the
collective noun for foxes ?Skulk' as the title of his latest CD. Or maybe
you've just seen the series "Whitechapel" on TV? Whatever the reason, his
opening choice of song "The Captain's Apprentice" is a brooding piece of work
that would settle comfortably alongside any recording by June Tabor and I
certainly applaud the unsettling choice of piano chords on a stark background
of saxophone used for its texture rather than as a melody. This really is an
unpretentious, Gothic piece of dramatic theatre that wouldn't sound out of
place as the soundtrack to a David Lynch or David Cronenberg movie and will
doubtless send shivers down the spine of anyone who purports to have a soul.
For this track alone I'd personally give the album a ten but than that would be
to dismiss this young man's ability to turn his hand to more or less any genre
of music he cares to utilise for his excursions. He makes no bones that the
?traditional' emphasis of his outpourings is his main preference of ingredient
but in using a heady mixture of jazz, rock and classical the scatter-gun
approach will hopefully expand the confines an audience made-up of primarily
?folk' music enthusiasts. This album may not be to everyone's taste; perhaps a
little too maudlin for most but I urge you to think again because any
?craftsman' that can make you go straight to your computer to check out the
original version of Anais Mitchell's (www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IOeGyD4zUA)
"If It's True" has done his job superbly well. I'd finally like to credit the
tremendous sleeve photos of Sorrel The Fox (held with loving care by Moray)
taken by the ever imaginative David Angel. If you're an animal lover or just
love good music you'll love this recording. www.jimmoray.com
PETE FYFE