Search - Robin Trower :: What Lies Beneath

Trower gets under your skin

Marcus Hawkes | Seattle, WA USA | 07/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is quite good. I am not a Trower expert, but I know what I like (Phil Manzanera, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Knopfler, Hendrix, Clapton).



Personnel:

Robin Trower-guitar & Vocals;

Livingston Brown-bass;

Sam Van Essen-drums;

Roger Cotton-organ;

Andrew Haveron & Clare Hinton: strings;

Chris Taggart-drums on tracks 2,8,9.

Packaging: Fold-over digipak, with CD resting nicely on a plastic base (not stuck in a sleeve). In the front cover sleeve is a folded insert with a photo of Trower and 7-page diary of the making of the CD (nice to read about the thought and effort that went into this project). I've added a diary page and the credits to the product images above (click on them for enlargements).



This is not just a collection of songs - it's a flowing creative, often atmospheric piece - sounds great late at night. There is a generous helping of guitar throughout, with Trower's trademark hooks and grooves, wah-wah, harmonies, dissonance, etc. Solos suited to the songs. Strings and organ complement the songs where they appear. Robin's vocals hit the mark. The Amazon song clip extracts are good selections.



Brief impressions of the songs:

1. Wish you were mine - slow sensitive instrumental with strings

2. What lies beneath - spirited vocal with wah-wah guitar

3. As you watch each city fall (part 1) - slow, Hendrix'y with strings

4. As you watch each city fall (part 2) - bouncy, spacey instrumental

5. Freefall - direct, in-your-face rocker

6. Once the spell is broken - slow start, evolving into full sound

7. Sleeping on the moon - energetic with attitude

8. Time and emotion - very relaxing guitar and organ instrumental

9. Skin and bone - spirited rocker

10.Buffalo blues - slow instrumental blues with organ

11.Find a place - slow heartfelt vocal, with heavy beat



This is a very satisfying CD, and highly recommended. The only thing I would change is that it could have been a little longer - when he gets going on those grooves, you wish they lasted longer. No songs are over 5 minutes, and the entire CD clocks at 42:20. In concert a couple weeks ago in Seattle he played for 90 minutes, and those extended songs are a treat (catch the '09 tour if you can).

"

WORTH THE WAIT

Peter Baklava | Charles City, Iowa | 08/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are scrolling down these reviews, trying to figure out whether this album is a good gamble to purchase, go no further. Robin Trower's "What Lies Beneath" is not merely a good album, it is marvelous, superb, splendiferous. I look at it as the summation of Trower's long career.



Listening to the thirty second "samples" simply won't do these songs justice. It was Trower's intention to craft this effort as a cohesive bunch of songs, each bleeding into the next. As a result, it's the best structured, most "musical" album Trower has done in decades.



Don't listen to people knocking on Robin's vocals. The criticism is off the mark, because his voice sounds just fine. He planned the songs in a range he could sing well, and it works because the songs are the most personal of his career...who else could have sung them?



And then there is that persistent gripe about Hendrix's influence. If you look at Robin's catalogue, you'll find that he has never once covered a Hendrix tune. It is true that he has emulated Hendrix, and on this cd "As You Watch Each City Fall" carries a heavy, Hendrix vibe. But it quotes no Hendrix tune... only "Song From a Dreamer", Robin's 1971 tribute to Hendrix, written when he was with Procol Harum.



"As You Watch..", "Find a Place", and "Once the Spell Has Broken" form a trio of majestic ballads. But the real delights are the upbeat rockers, "Freefall", "Skin and Bone", and "What Lies Beneath", which fairly drip with some SERIOUS funk. Not so surprising, maybe, given that Trower's other musical hero (besides Hendrix) is James Brown. Even the instrumentals click--they aren't throwaways, they're great mood pieces.



Livingston Brown had heavy input into the making of this album--his bass playing really opens these tunes up, and he was also responsible for some little touches of genius in the arrangements, adding vibes, celeste and even strings to the mix.



Trower has had a lot of ups and downs, with his career reaching a low point in the mid-Eighties. Since then, he has made a long, slow climb upwards. I think that part of the problem was that he wouldn't give up on the power trio format. But this album opens up a lot of possibilities, and it could be Trower's "Blow by Blow".



I'd say it's worthy of a Grammy nomination....but it's enough to see Trower's face on the inner sleeve, looking very pleased with himself. He deserves to be.



P.S: PLAY IT LOUD







"

For Heaven Above

Anthony Gliozzo | Mission Viejo, CA | 07/17/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one ethereal and transcending CD. I've been a Trower fan since 1974 and saw him live through the 70s and 80s. This CD truly hold its weight and carries forward the spacy Bridge of Sighs type sound with a more modern, mature approach. Moody and tranquil with spots of strings and Dusty Hill like vocals. This could very well be one the best rock/blues cd's of the year.



It will only leave you yearning for more."