Posted on October 14, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Undercurrent with Steve Robinson

I have to admit that being asked to review “Undercurent” by Steve Robinson was quite a surprise indeed. Don’t know if Mr. Robinson has to consider himself rather lucky or not, fact is that I was hit and delighted by his last work, finding a lot of familiar and fancy sounds that wouldn’t stop me claiming EUREKA! if they would happened to come out from a Crayon Fields or Mayer Hawthorne album. Why I’m not so sure that Steve should consider himself fortunate? Probably because he’s dealing with a man who’s seriously convinced that the second best album of the World after Sgt. Pepper is Gerry Beckley “Van Go Gan”, and his life is going in ruin because he can’t find an original copy of that cd.

So that’s it, forget The Band, The Grateful Dead and Ramones as Steve Robinson proclaimed main influences, don’t care too much if his former band “The Headlights” world shared the stage with Roger McGuinn, what you’re about to hear (because as you read this you OUGHT to buy that album) is nothing but America the band colliding with Van Morrison.

Being America one of my favourite bands EVER (in case you didn’t already notice) propbably I will be a little bit too hard too on that review, because an opening like “Wooden Hill” puts Steve Robinson and his solo album right to an upper category of works (id est: I will not give away the cd plus I will play it over and over all winter long).

“Wooden Hill” is just sweet for my tooth, well played, not an instrument out of place, an enchanting blend of clean guitars arpeggios, and a cleaver use of choirs reminding George Martin’s productions or Teenage Fanclub.

If Steve Robinson UK mates are a little upset for the “Americanization” of some of his latest werks, I’ve been disappointed with the second track “Please Emmalene”, but that’s a personal thing: I simply can’t stand celtic/folk stuff in the songs, and I find that this move (like the übersilly “The Best Days of Your Life”) spoils the work from a proper defined identity.

Being said that second and third track should be erased from the album, I got really impressed by “Love is Real”. The song could easily would have found its place on “Silent Letter”, and it’s really a shame that powerful tracks like these have to fit the same album of weaker stuff like “Wasted and Waiting”, that somehow has the plus to recalling “Gilber O’Sullivan” from time to time.

“Forget About Love” is a nice piece of Americana with a catcy blues harmonica on it, still the track is not that original and once again the only question raised by lyrics is “So what?”

Yet again after an uncertain track comes another little jewel- Guided by Steve Robinson fingerpicking “Road to Ruin” is a plain lullaby with a brilliant slightly growing string arrangement. Underated genious or professional amateur? “Class Clown” find its balance between the two impressions.

“Boring God” and the Mull of Kentyrian “I’m in trouble (again)” closes this album of bright sides and shades with a glorious sunset.

Don’t know if you’ll agree with me saying that “Undercurrent” it’s probably taken for “Underrated”. What I do know is that Fabio Benni from Le Man Avec Les Lunettes would probably love half of the song on it, and two people against the world it’s yet an army. Will you join us too?

Steve Robinson – “Forget About Love”

Waiting for our sight:

• What Will Replace MTV? (15)
• Our last year of independent? (7)
• Funny Little Bunny (6)
• Alice Nine (5)
• Let’s grow old together… and die at the same time (4)