Yusuf Azak -‘Turn On the Long Wire’ (Song, By Toad Records)
T
his year I have felt like I have been drowning in singer-songwriters of both sexes. What has been utterly dispiriting, frankly, has been having to write reviews of albums that are dull, dull, dull and even worse, that people have poured their heart, soul and more often than not, their life savings into. So when so give it the thumbs down, you’re left feeling like a VERY NASTY PERSON.
So it is fantastic to be able to report that, follwoing own from his own self-released EPS Gazelle and Light Procession (still available from his myspace page) that the Aberdeen-born, Glasgow-based’s singer’s debut is an utter delight from start to finish. Many singer-songwriters dream of people mentioning them in the same breath as Nick Drake or Bo
b Dylan, when all they have done is fail to find their own voice. This album shows, however, that Mr. Azak’s found his own voice and taken influences from both. The album’s strings were scored by the man himself. There’s not a week track on here, though standouts have to be ‘The Key Underground’ and ‘Thin Air’, though today my favourite is ‘Eastern Sun.’
At 27 minutes, some may argue that it’s short for an album…whatever. Not a
note is wasted.It’s a beautiful and dreamy collection of songs that deserves to be heard.
Make sure you do.
Turn On The Long Wire is out now on Song, By Toad Records.
The Key Underground.’ mp3
