I have to confess that previous Zoe McCulloch Cds have passed me by without even a hint of an impression. Pitched towards the provincial chicken in the basket audience and relying on the common currency of familiar hit vocal tunes for material, Zoe has pursued a path somewhere near to those sterile market-survey constructed Shadows albums of the mid-eighties. Not exactly bad, but not exactly exciting either.
Now before Zoe and her manager Pat Terrett set the dogs on me let me swiftly add that this new cd is terrific! Kicking off with Gypsy Noodle, a recently found composition from Mason "Classical Gas" Williams, Zoe shows us that all the recent globe-trotting and rubbing shoulders with some of the world's great guitarist has not been wasted. She plays with great feeling, one minute gentle and restrained, the next exploding with power and incorporating all those neat little touches that separate the ordinary guitarist from a slick professional. Canto Alla Vita follows and is another great track. It has a warm summery, Latin feel, vaguely jazzy but mixing in Welsh sounding vocal chorus - so it's like LA via Aberystwyth!
Mark Knopfler's What It Is, is an inspired choice with Zoe's sweet-toned guitar ringing as well as old Knoppie himself is wont to do, which is no mean feat. And then another great Mason Williams tune titled Largo Deluxe where Zoe demonstrates masterful Marvin - like control of the volume pedal as she injects real emotion into this beautiful synth - swathed melody, which is also adorned with a tender acoustic guitar and piano. Big River, written by Jimmy Nail of all people, provides Zoe with another diamond track, full of a delicate, subtle pathos, she wrings every ounce of emotion from this surprise winner.
And just as you think that this standard can't be maintained, she goes and surpasses it! Forever, packs a huge emotional punch - grand opening chords and a melody that sneaks into your sub - conscious, then deep sad notes which suddenly reach for the skies as drummer Brent Keefe lays down a subtle blend of cymbals, snare and toms that has Zoe soaring. Whew!
And the great tracks keep coming. Mason Williams' Baroque-A-Nova begins in a restrained way and then builds to a driving, air - punching climax while, in complete contrast, another Williams tune, Santa Fe Souvenir, has a rootsy Cajun atmosphere complete with squeeze - box accompaniment (probably a cunningly disguised synth!). Similarly Mark Knopfler's Sailing To Philadelphia has a strong, earthy, emotion - ladened feel - regret for leaving but a tinge of expectation too and Zoe conveys these subtleties splendidly . Bass player and second guitarist Al Steele contributes three original and perhaps inspired by the high quality of material on display her, lifts his game considerably. I do detect vague echoes of other tunes in his compositions and Zoe and the band's fine performance elevates them still higher. Cardiff Bay is another deeply satisfying track, with Zoe's poignant lead set against a dark and moody acoustic line, with sensitive piano work and ponderous rhythm support pushing the lead guitarist to some expressive and moving soloing. Added to this are excellent versions of a trio of well known classics: a faithful treatment of Hank's Sacha, a fiery reading of Mason's Classical Gas, and a lightly swinging Sultans Of Swing.
So why is this cd such a huge leap forward? Mason Williams' material is undoubtedly a real plus, and added to that are a host of lesser - known but absolutely inspired choices, which lend the whole cd an air of freshness. Not only that, Zoe has blossomed as a guitarist and fits seamlessly together with her band. The whole cd is of consistently high quality and there simply isn't a duff track to be heard anywhere. I never expected to be saying this, but Zoe's album has to be a contender for Pipeline's best album of the year.
Dave Burke, Editor: Pipeline Instrumental Magazine
