Wilson, Ray - Change


Year of Release: 2003
Label: InsideOut Music
Catalog Number: IOMCD 123
Format: CD
Total Time: 41:12:00

It?s the reversed world for Ray Wilson. Instead of starting small and building his way up to the top, this guy has started from the very top only to find himself at the very bottom of that same mountain a handful of years later. Not that it does anything to the quality of his music. On the contrary, because now the ex-Stiltskin and ex-Genesis frontman is completely free, can take the direction he really wants and chose the kind of songs that fit his slightly hoarse voice best. In Steve Wilson and Amanda Lyon he has found the ideal "buddies" in order to mould the songs to the best of his abilities. "Goodbye Baby Blue" could most certainly be a firm radio favourite if only it was given a fair chance! Other than David Paton (Pilot, Alan Parsons Project, Rick Wakeman) Wilson uses an extensive number of unknown guest musicians on this album. The majority of the songs still have an acoustic feel, which turns them towards folky atmospheres. "Along The Way" sounds like it could be a Lloyd Cole original or an unreleased song by the Proclaimers. Sometimes it?s the inclusion of the accordion that gives it a more folky character such as during "Yesterday." It most certainly enables Wilson to deliver these songs in both an elaborate, fully arranged way, or in a small acoustic setting, even just accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. "Beach" is a very fragile song, supposedly a "normal," "easy" song, but the build up is so ingenious it soon becomes one of the addictive songs on this album.

Wilson strips down to the bare necessities, as if he?s Bob Dylan himself during "She Fades Away." How magical it is when his acoustic guitar suddenly gets the company of the Wurlitzer organ. Then when the drums set in, you get the complete picture, but it?s always down to getting the "unplugged" version right. If this still sounds right then you know you can add whatever arrangement and it will still be OK. "Another Day" delivers one of the best songs on the album, being carefully crafted in order to live the life of something unique. The sparse yet effective percussion complements the song perfectly. It fades out and automatically blends with the final track "The Last Horizon," which is like the same melody that keeps on repeating itself as if you were to be in a hazy flux. Wilson?s voice can be heard in the distance echoing away whilst the music ebbs away.

So if you?re looking for a nice collection of simple, honest pop songs sung from the heart and with a unique voice then Change is yours. It certainly is a "change? from his Stiltskin and Genesis past, but then again time moves on and Wilson is far too young to call it a day ? yet!


Tracklisting:
Intro (0:26) / Goodbye Baby Blue (3:58) / Change (4:09) / Along The Way (3:39) / Yesterday (3:31) / Beach (3:28) / Cry If You Want To (3:26) / Beautiful Child (2:57) / She Fades Away (3:34) / I Look For You There (0:55) / Believe (3:03) / Another Day (3:49) / The Last Horizon (4:12)

Musicians:
Ray Wilson - guitar, vocals, bass, mouth organ, piano, strings
Steve Wilson - guitar, backing vocals
Amanda Lyon - vocals

Guests :

Nir Z - drums, percussion
Brian McAlpine - accordeon
Andy Hess - bass
Irvine Duguid - Hammond, Wurlitzer, strings
Taj Wyzgowski - guitar, slide guitar, mandolin
Paul Holmes - keyboards
John Haimes - bass
Adam Holzman - Wurlitzer
James McKintosh - percussion
Jenny Gardner - violin
David Paton - bass
Ornette Clennon ? clarinet

Discography:
Guaranteed Pure - Swing Your Bag (1993)
Stiltskin - The Minds Eye (1994)
Genesis - Calling All Stations (1997)
Cut_ - Millionairhead (1999)
Live And Acoustic (2002)
Change (2003)
The Next Big Thing (2004)
Ray Wilson Live (2005)
An Audience And Ray Wilson (ltd ed. & dl) (2006)
Stiltskin - She (2006)
Stiltskin - Stiltskin Live (2007)
Propaganda Man (2008)
Ray Wilson And The Berlin Symphony Ensemble, Genesis Klassik Live In Berlin (2009)
Stiltskin - Unfulfillment (2011)
Ray Wilson And The Berlin Symphony Ensemble, Genesis Classic Live In Poznan (2011)
Chasing Rainbows (2013)
Up Close And Personal - Live At SWR1 (2014)
Genesis Vs Stiltskin - 20 Years And More (2014)
Song For A Friend (2016)
Makes Me Think Of Home (2016)
Time And Distance (2017)
ZDF@BAUHAUS May 20, 2018 (2018)
Upon My Life (2019)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: October 5th 2003
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.raywilson.net
Hits: 2112
Language: english

  

[ Back to Reviews Index | Post Comment ]