Customer Reviews

LifeTime

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

 

 

Terry Callier- Life Time

The prophet of peace and love is back, though if you are expecting something along the lines of Time Peace I think you might be disappointed. After raving on for far too long about Time Peace, I feel a bit let down with this recording, which seems to have been released in somewhat of a hurry to capitalise on its predecessor. It works best when it's just Callier and guitar( and at times bass.) This has always been the case for me after all. There's a rawness and honesty about it that appeals immediately. The main problem here as I here it is that it's too smoochy smooth at times, dangerously close to MOR. Which is a shame because Callier can do better than this. Highlights include Where A Lark Is Singing, as well as Fix The Blame, almost a folk protest song about blaming everyone else for your own problems. Nobody But Yourself (to blame) is another fine piece. Great stuff. The bossa nova like duet with Beth Orton is OK but not that memorable. I Don't Want To See Myself Without You is another fine piece, you could almost say classic Callier, though it might have benefited with a bit of editing. It goes on for too long, though like a gospel song it is meant to be uplifting through the sheer power of the voices involved. There's even a short number dedicated to Miles Davis. Life Time will keep Callier's current legion of fans satisfied; let's be honest, at least they don't have to wait another twenty years or so in between records. Truth is Callier has done better, and with repeated listenings this record does grow on you but certainly not as rapidly as Time Peace did. Maybe it's time to search out those earlier releases of his, and find out how good the man sounded back then. It's a shame really because for those that may just be discovering Callier's beautiful voice, this record is not going to win him new fans in great numbers.

Terry Callier is one of the best songwriter and performer of this century. Hopefully he has been rediscovered few years ago thanks to some London DJ's who used the track "I don't want to see myself without you" (written in the late 70's by T.Callier) which became a unpredictable club hit in London. A new and excellent version of this track is featured in this new album which contains a lot of new fascinating compositions ("Comin' from Babylon", "When my lady danced"). Please listen to this record, you will be very surprised that a man with such a voice is only recognized by some clever critics. And you will see that Terry Callier can become your favorite artist.

This guy is a very good vocalist and a fine guitarist but the CD is a mixed bag. About half of it is a unique blend of jazz and folk. If the whole CD was like that it would be a keeper. Unfortunately, the other half is a mix of slick soul and some bad attempts at reggae.

listen to track number 8 and you understand where i,m talking about .That don,t mean he can,t do it alone. It,s a shame we,ve waited so long for this musical prophet. Because timepeace did you hunger for more