One of the best gigs I've seen over the last few years was the Waterboys here at the Paramount in Austin when they were promoting
Modern Blues. Having seen the band 25 years ago, it was a joy to be reminded of the power of Mike Scott live. Of late, he seems to be on a creative roll so I was happy to learn of a new album,
Out of all this Blue, and duly signed up for the deluxe edition. As is the way of the music industry, one could order versions and I got the 3-LP collection that has the basic album (as if 'basic' can be applied here) and various extras including outake versions and live tracks. If nothing else, for the price it is good value.
With Mike and the 'Boys (though it really feels it's just Mike these days with a few musicians backing him up), you might imagine you know what you're getting but you never can be sure. Certainly he will always be lyrically inventive, personal, thoughtful and philosophical. Mike is a writer of anthems, a crafter of inspirational messages, and not beyond adding in a quick ditty if the mood takes him. But he's also capable of being biting, dismissive and critical of a world he holds in disdain. It will be no surprise, therefore, to a seasoned listener to hear these shades in the latest release.
What might surprise you however, is the musical sounds on offer. If you associate the Waterboys with either 'big' music (electric guitars, pounding drums and roaring vocals) matched sometimes with folky textures (acoustic strumming, soft singing, fiddles) then brace yourself for a sideways move into synthesized beats, hip-hop rhythms, and a sonic landscape that sounds both dated and curiously modern at the same time. In effect, it sounds as if Mike Scott is having fun messing around with new toys and for long-term fans, the initial impressions are likely to be colored by the superficial differences the sonic presentation highlights.
That said, and one reason I've had to sit on this review for a bit, is that despite this intentional move into new sonic territory, this is without doubt a real Waterboys album. The hooks are here, (oh boy, are they just) the lyrics are worth hearing repeatedly, and the vibe is one of cool enlightenment -- you know, just like every other Waterboys album. You just have to give the album a more than cursory listen to let its qualities come through.
Opener '
Do we chose who we love?' sets the tone with a swinging, funky hook that would be at home on any number of previous releases, and by the time the backing vocals kick in over the chorus you'll be tapping your feet along and finding the song worming its way into your brain. And speaking of catchiness, how about "
If the answer is yeah" is about as pure perfect pop as you'll hear this year, and impossible not to find yourself singing when you least expect it. Though in true Mike Scott fashion, I doubt too many pop songs these days contain lyrics such as "can you remember the last six books you read?"
A dominant theme throughout is love, and the finding of it perhaps later than hoped for but found fo sure, inevitably and gratefully. Mike Scott's songs tell us he is in love now and has no desire to keep that quiet. And it's not just a woman; he loves New York, he loves music, and he drags you willingly along for the ride across multiple tracks expressing his enthusiasms. But light and love are never the sole thematic drivers of a Waterboys album and we have the almost obligatory dig at some. In this case, Kinky Friedman gets it in the neck with a sharp dig over a comment made, all set to a cod-country tune. If there's a non-needed track on the album, this might get my nod, though
Girl in a Kayak is a couple of minutes of filler on the start of side 4 also. There's a nod to Pink Floyd and the Beatles in a couple of the songs which might be intentional in the latter case, perhaps less so in
Payo Payo Chin's opening resemblance to
Learning to Fly (just listen, and tell me you don't hear that!). But it's Mike Scott, this is the terrain of a creative artist who does what pleases him and you take it or leave it as you see fit. In the scheme of the double album's worth of new material, I certainly choode to take it.
The deluxe version has some interesting extras that will appeal more to hardcore fans only. Alternative takes of a couple of songs, plus some fairly poor sounding live tracks add another slice of vinyl to the 3-LP package (though getting a live recording of a track from the same day it was written is a sort of perfect addition). While I'm happy to have these, they are curiosities, not essentials. As an album,
Out of all this Blue took me by surprise at first with the low-fi retro sonics and manufactured beats. You'll not find this one used to showcase any rig at an audio show for sure. But fear not, it's a true Waterboys album. In fact, after hearing it repeatedly, I am of the view that it's actually one of Mike Scott's best efforts. Give it time, the journey is worth the destination.
