Artful singer-songwriter, Trevor Jones (Jones) as a rule works as a duo with musical partner Marcus Cliffe as the other half the duo Miracle Mile; to date have nine albums to their name. Here, as already noted Jones serves up another of his intricate, his fourth (following on from Hopeland, 2009, Keepers, 2010, To The Bone, 2014) solo recordings. Awash in sensitive mind-turning stylish lyrics and vocal twists to match he transfers the mood and soul of the listener to a place far removed to the one they were on first tuning into his latest 13-track set of work.
As for title-track “Happy Blue” once I dropped into the groove of the song and wondrous hues transmitted by Jones it was like, wow! What a gem and what beautifully evocative lyrics, sensitive playing and general travel-inviting feel.
It is like Jones hitches a ride on the travel capsule, but stretches out his hand to give you a hitch up to have you join him. On a journey through life’s experiences, so genuine and generous is Jones as he shares his thoughts, moods and hope for the future. Accompanying his music you have graceful pedal steel on innovative production “Naked Adam”, while he has piano, steel guitar and Hammond organ on “Weakness And Wine”. “Cartwheels” has a more contemporary edge, but he is back doing what he does best tell stories through his descriptive lyrics and vocals on “St Cecilia” and with his father who recently passed away very much in mind, “Battersea Boy” draws melancholy fashion on his formative days.
Others of note include “My Muffled Pray” and with piano, Hammond and steel guitar warming his tones sensitive ode “Ghost Of A Song” as he gently eases into the album, but the heart (and finest most memorable) of the album come in the form of inseparable tracks “Happy Blue”, “Lovers Never Tell” and “Naked As Adam”...., tunes I can't help but go back to!
Maurice Hope