Tiger Moth Tales - Spring Fever.

 Time Won't Wait For You and Me.

I have to admit as the years role on for music to get passed my defences gets harder and harder.

When I am becalmed somewhere in the world the sound track to my day is BBC Radio 3. Extra ordinary sonata's, symphonies, sacred music, jazz tumble out of my beloved Sonos. Today Janacek, Sibelius, Vaughn Williams all floated up into my loft. If I want to set the agenda it might be Holly Cole, Streisand, Sinatra as the sun falls out of the sky and supper beckons. 

Jan Garabek, Jaco Pastorious, Hilliard Ensemble one could go on. I left tons of my teenage music behind years ago but if the stars collide I would happily sit in the theatre in "Chippy" and revel in the warmth of Fairport or the Nettlebed Folk Club where I have seen Home Service. So scene set whats this TMT like.

Peter Jones Tiger Moth Tales has got behind my defences and its utterly wonderful. 

When I listen to his bravura performances on "Spring Fever" words and phrases that come to mind are energy, intelligence, charismatic singing, focus, urgency, originality, mellifluous drumming, searing sophisticated block vocals, jazz inflections, bollywood and musical breadth. 

"Spring Fever" erupts out of the speakers, a  little bit of prog rock bombast before he hits his stride.  The first thing that makes me smile is the use of sax and block vocals which give it a smooth sophisticated feel but at speed. The drumming is not rock steady its jazz playfulness and swings and there is a mad cap lead run by the Bass its all very EXCITING.

"Forester" starts off quite different chugging acoustics, injections of recorders but its the vocal performance that dominates. His voice is big and smoky a sort of Peter Gabriel meets Michael Bubble. The latter comparison comes out of the sophistication of his phrasing. He is not afraid to sing, you know, in a tradition rather than be clever and perverse. 

"Holi" the fourth track starts all mysterious with wonderful volume surges and then Indian flute playing evoking moments by the Ganges. The mood stays in tact with lovely pattering percussion but then erupts into an exciting chant, not pontificating pseudo religious just buying into the joyous tradition of Bollywood - there I have said it, and it does not go on and on. It leaves you wanting more. 

"Goddess and the Greenman" is just a huge love song important piano intro again lovely use of wind juxtaposed against stately acoustic guitar. But its Pete's performance that takes you higher and higher if you like that kind of bittersweet introspective I am happy I am crying feeling (I do).

"Mad March Hare" is quite different, jazzy, fun, great syncopation and again the vocal performance comes over as "big international performer." Big stomping chorus and then it dissolves into a quite plaintive run indeed Viv Stanshall comes to mind and the Bonzo Dog Band with its zany moves and its not just clever its ENTERTAINING.

"Rapa Nui" is a MASSIVE CHANGE. Its the riff from Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song and I start singing ahahahaaaah. Then it resolves into a huge verse which Pete's voice is more than capable of carrying. But the otherworldly feel and changes dominate which is the perfect back drop to song that invokes crossing oceans to discovery's which retain their mystery .. and answers. Music and Subject in perfect symmetry. Then the huge chorus "We sailed on from Easter Isle a people left in doomed exile." and then a perfectly judged enigmatic large questioning ending.

"Light" is a return to a beautifully propelled mid paced folky piece. It is vaguely torch a rallying call. This is just very emotional beautiful music wonderfully performed. It also has a  false ending and after several moments of silence a super bit of funk starts up great urban synthesiser emerges, a bit David Sancious and with the introduction of horns taking the chorus it sounds very Steely Dan and fits perfectly with the use of Brass and Block Vocals earlier up the repertoire. 

Mr Peter Jones thank you for getting past my defences. I love your music and I cannot wait to sing this sat on a downed tree somewhere in a forest there or there with mountains and or fells as a back drop. Imitation being the best form of flattery.


 

   

 




 



 

 

 

    

      




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