The
Hat, along with many others, continues to wonder why Trevor
Sewell isn't
a mega-star on the UK Scene. A fine guitarist, arranger, producer and
great song-writer, there was a queue from here to his native
Sunderland lining up to praise his debut album 'Calling Your Name'
and the follow-up 'Independence'
won
multiple awards....but....only in America, where his work has been
covered by major artists and picked up for film sound tracks. He is a
familiar figure in the Capital Records studio in Hollywood where he
has recorded and he has won 8 major awards in the last three
years....in the States.
Hopefully,
his new release 'Hollow' will put an end to all that bizarre
one-sidedness and the UK flag will be raised with equal pride. This
is an absolute humdinger of an album – crossing boundaries,
flourishing different styles, beautifully written, terrific
arrangements with a line-up of top-flight musicians and powerfully
delivered with his distinctive voice soaring and whispering all over
everything. Like his previous albums (hugely supported by the IBBA
radio stations) - if the current UK air-play of the digital release
is anything to go by, then the CD, out next month, is going to be
flying off the shelves.
Hollow
is a ten track affair, featuring a number of musician guests from
both sides of the Atlantic and apparently its production started in
Hollywood and finished in the UK. Nevertheless, it is a seamless
production which takes you through half a dozen moods, rhythms and
styles. It is topped and tailed by the two-parter title track which
is, to be frank, a spectacular classic that would stand out in any
list in the world. Full of atmospherics, moody, stuffed with urgent
drumming, exciting backing vocals, resonant Cooder style slide, harp
and badman lyrics delivered in Trevor's deep Crossroads-meeting
voice.
He
then takes a leap back into familiar laid-back Sewell territory, with
'Shaky Ground' where Chris Rea meets Mark Knopfler and pure clean
strong guitar supplements some sentimental lyrics. Indeed despite the
superb arrangements and musicianship, the lyrics are hugely important
in all the tracks, with 'What You Say', and 'As long as I can
Breathe' both tackling the familiar relation hiatus with eloquence
and a touch of cynical resignation. There is also a great
finger-clicking dance number 'Small Change' which puts a smart boot
into someone who maybe getting above themselves...'how come you think
you are so much better than me?'. As if to underline his dark and
light messages about the trials and tribulations of love, the track
before the final Hollow reprise is 'All I Need Is The Truth (so that
I can move on)'. Yep. Don't we all.
There
is a not a weak link anywhere in this album – musicianship, lyrics,
both complex and stripped-out refined arrangements, solo vocals,
backing vocals. The radio shows will play it and play it. You will
play it and play it. It is a classic.
