Sulo has to be one of the most prolific artists out there these days clocking in an average of 5 releases a year in either solo mode or as part of other projects, and as such there are always going to be highs and lows. Whatever your stance though on output and quality control it does make an interesting insight into the man and the creative process.
‘Nightshift’ the first of two separate albums offered here as a double set (the Country Duet set ‘Brilliant Outsiders’ being the bonus disc) is “a dark, melancholy almost acoustic ride into the depths of the soul.” It’s certainly not the sort of album to play when you’re feeling delicate or down, so if you’re looking for an easy listen this isn’t the album for you.
Starting with the immediately downcast contemplation on his demise in ‘End of Me’ we pretty much get a summary of the lyrical framework for this collection. But if headstones and lonely cries aren’t enough, then ‘All Shapes of Loneliness’ which eschews a mournful strummed guitar for mournful piano is all dead flowers, closed doors, cold winds and tears turning to ice. It’s now time to remove sharp objects… All good now?
‘Time to Alight’ in comparison initially seems rather gentle until we find out that everything is ‘hopeless, damaged and dead.’ In truth as you get deeper into this world of misery you realise that if you switched out the lyrics then the plodding pace and keys would still render this latest album from the Diamond Dogs ex-frontman a rather grim and dark affair, you can’t even catch a glimpse a glint of hope as you imagine Cohen and Cave taking downers and discussing the concept of ‘Weltschmerz’ in a sea of empty bottles…
If you’re a fan of Sulo it’s not all doom and gloom musically at least, some of the arrangements have a wilting beauty especially tracks like ‘I Swear to God I Don’t Believe’ which is plaintive and lifted by some wonderful backing vocals. It’s my favourite here and postulating, as it does, on the non-existence of God its not quite as intrinsically gloomy.
Other highlights (though that obviously isn’t the right word here!) include the piano-led Country tinged ‘I Keep Running Into Your Arms’ which despairs at the prospect of not being able to break away from a lover; the urgency of ‘Lord Of Mercy On My Baby Tonight’ and the mournful ‘Roaming Bird’.
But rather than take the last word, let’s give it to Sulo: “It’s a musical diary of the things that keeps you awake at night, a study of the darkness within”.
Are there any fans of Country out there?
Any fans of Country duets?
Well then you may not be that interested in the bonus disc then which was recorded a couple of years back and features 13 country duets with a considerable cast of players. Not just country ballads though – no covers here all Sulo originals written with producer Kevin Porée. If i can be honest with you I only made it through this set the once but it is the yin to ‘Nightshift’s’ yang and a rather upbeat affair. sadly whilst I can take a little Country with my Rock I’m not much good with it straight. All I can muster is to say that it sounds like the sort of collection a fan of old school Country might enjoy…
Not my favourite Sulo release by a long stretch but the great thing about this great man is that you don’t have to wait too long for the next one!
Sulo – Nightshift
1. End Of Me
2. All Shapes Of Loneliness
3. Time To Alight
4. Nightshift
5. I Swear To God I Don’t Believe
6. I Keep Running Into Your Arms
7. Hit Me Where It Hurts
8. This Burden Is Forever
9. Hard To Go Easy
10. Still Sleeping With The Lights On
11. Recollection Of You
12. Lord Of Mercy On My Baby Tonight
13. If The Lights Return
14. Roaming Bird
Sulo’s Brilliant Outsiders – Brilliant Outsiders
1. Brilliant Outsiders
2. Early Morning Light
3. Curse Of The Ring
4. Bring Down The Angels
5. God-Damned Jesus
6. The Girl With The Rainbow Eyes
7. Redemption’s At Hand
8. When The Work Is Done
9. Constant Reminder
10. Your Precious Heart
11. Love Is For The Broken Hearted
12. Good Enough
13. A Song For Every Train
SULO is:
Sulo Karlsson – Vocals, Guitars (Diamond Dogs, The Crunch)
Musicians:
Chris Spedding, Wilko Johnson, Robert Wyatt, Maria McKee, Janis Ian, Terry Reid, Bellamy Brothers, Linda Gail Lewis (Jerry Lee’s sister), Paul Young, Los Pacaminos, Jamie Moses (Queen, Tom Jones Band), Hamish Stuart
(Average White band, Pau McCartney) and more…
