Roger Knott - PULL THE PLOUGH THAT FURROWS DEEPEST

       From the back catalogue of singer, musician and composer, Roger Knott and his UK band, Lifeblud, this is an exciting and very well conceived album.

       Tracks on it were recorded between 2017-2021 in Nashville, TN, but date back to a tremendously creative time in Britain, now revisited and revised to great effect. They showcase Roger’s always poetic and melodic songs, and in their lyrics, such well observed hymns to our loves, our lives and those confusing, painful and contrary times of great romance.

       The opening track, Pathway, with lyrics from which the album title originates, sets the course for this adventurous journey through his songs of glorious yesterdays. Tender songs such as Summer Flower and Waterside; and then the love addiction to ‘another’ is well described in Strange Powers with its haunting acoustic guitar melody. Quite different from the following, heart denied love of The Great Lost Love. But then there are also punchy social commentary songs such as City Wheels with Thomm Jutz on organ, reminiscent of Procol Harum’s iconic sound.

       This album features some very talented session musicians who in the Nashville tradition ‘serve the song’. Most prominent amongst these is Thomm Jutz on acoustic, electric and bass guitars, who also engineered, mixed and produced this album. Catch him on the song Rescue to hear his inspiring guitar work that resurfaces throughout the album, and to the closing track Man Of War with its delicious guitar solo. But also his acoustic guitar with Jeff Taylor’s occasional accordion and Kevin McKendree’s Hammond B3 behind. The drumming of Lynn Williams and Pat McInerney is always tight and solid, to move the music along with no excessive frills from any of the backing musicians to detract from the always sensitive songs.

       In the UK sixties and much of the seventies, the music scene then teemed with so many innovative and exciting bands to marvel at, that the recorded world of music missed out on Roger Knott and his enthusiastic band, Lifeblud. But here are newly minted tracks, reminiscent of that era, fresh and vibrant as if we all were still alive in those halcyon times of love and hope, of optimism and a genuine sensitivity. Highly original songs that, while in the genre of the melodies and riffs from those times past, are yet contemporary and so avoid the memories and nostalgia experienced when listening to the albums of that time.

       This surely then is a refreshing treasure in these rappingly harsh and always complaining times. Those who resonate with such comment will be delighted with these newly released songs from the pen of Roger Knott.

John Sivyer

Former music journalist,

Contributor to Melody Maker, Sounds and Music Week