Customer Reviews

Joy Mining

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In his sleeve notes, Iain Matthews says that, bar none, this is the finest album of his career. In reviewing this stylish new direction from a master of his craft, I was tempted either to agree (because this album is so good) or, alternatively, to have the temerity to disagree (because I like so many of his earlier albums).

To me, Iain Matthews is a genius. Throughout a career that has spanned Fairport, Plainsong and a string of stellar solo albums, he has proved that he is one of the very best vocalists in the business. He is even better - if that is possible - as a composer. Anyone needing proof of this statement need only hear, say, "God's Empty Chair" or "A Cross To Bear". He is, quite simply, Britain's finest singer-songwriter. He deserves to be recognised as such.

On "Joy Mining", Iain has teamed up with Searing Quartet to take his music in a strikingly new direction - this is modern jazz, delivered with exquisite musicianship in a cool, late-night, laid-back style. Any jazz fan will love this, and established followers of Iain will relish it once they adjust to the difference from his earlier material. The quartet are superb - together, Egbert Derix on piano, Peter Hermesdorf on sax, Norbert Leurs on bass and Sjoerd Rutten on drums and percussion provide a classy and seamless setting for Iain's ever-brilliant vocals.

All the tracks here are good, but I must pick out "St Theresa's Ghost", "Randolph Scott", "Another Night in Paradise" and the intriguingly-titled "Shakespeare's Typewriter" as stand-outs.

Is this a better album than "Pure and Crooked", "Skeleton Keys" or "Live Alone"? I don't think one needs to choose. Instead, just enjoy them all.