Return
of the Travelling Fingerpicker
Nick Charles
Review by Clinton White
Catalogue
810 398 2
|
In a career spanning more than 25 years, roots guitarist,
singer and composer, Nick Charles has released a dozen albums and performs over
150 gigs a year in Australia, New Zealand and the US. His laid-back style of blues, folk and early
ragtime acoustic guitar has held unparalleled popularity among a variety of
audiences.
His newest album, Return
of the Travelling Fingerpicker, offers 13 tracks, of which ten are new Charles
originals. It’s a kind of back-to-the-future
approach; something of an extension to Travelling
Fingerpicker, also a solo instrumental album, which Charles released in
2004.
Even so, it’s not simply a case of ‘more of the same’. Charles has further developed his style and
technique. It’s still laid-back and a
good Sunday arvo jam kind of approach, but he’s got a fresh take with some
great riffs, driving rhythms and imaginative improvs.
There’s a range of music styles, too, from full-on blues, to
teary ballads and steel guitar rattles and slides taking you to an old rocking
chair on the dusty front porch of some deep-south ranch house in the blistering
humidity of summer. Charles’ arrangement
of the two trad folky tunes Greensleeves
and Scarborough Fair deftly lulls the
listener into a false sense of security, starting off with an introspective
what-you’d-expect intro, which soon launches off into a rhythmic bluesy style.
The recording quality is superb, too, with some close and
beautifully clear miking, faithfully delivering the full dynamic and sonic range
of the instruments. And it’s all as
natural as fresh fruit, too. No overdubs,
enhancements or tricks.
I’ve heard Nick Charles play a few times now. He’s always entertaining, always enthralling,
and always a nice bloke.
Go see him. He's playing at the Harmonie German Club, Jerrabomberra Ave, Narrabundah, ACT at 3pm on Sunday April 29. And buy
his CDs.
