Review:'Michael De Albuquerque' 'Stalking The Sleeper'
- Label: 'Think Like A Key Music'
- Genre: 'Seventies'
- Release Date: '23.1.26.'- Catalogue No: 'TLAK1255'
Our Rating:
This is the latest in Think Like A Keys program of re-issues of Electric Light Orchestra member Michael De Albuquerque's solo albums. This is the 50th anniversary reissue for Stalking The Sleeper the third solo album, he recorded the album at Morgan studios off Willesden High Road and produced the album alongside his brother George. Engineered by Gregg Jackman, The strings and Horns were arranged by Frank Ricotti, the rest of the band were Barry Morgan, Ollie Halsall, Dave Lawson, Mike Moran and Stan Sulzmann. The bonus material features a single by Violinski and a demo.
The album opens with I Gotta Woman that turns the much-covered Ray Charles blues classic into a smooth soul ballad, couched in strings and Michaels rich vocals, making sure we know how much he loves what she does for him, his is silky smooth compared to Kevin Coyne's take on this song.
Stalking The Sleeper has smooth strings and a gentle lilt for this tale of Stalking The Sleeper who could be an enemy agent, rather than a lover who has not left his bed yet, the sax has cool somnambulant qualities, helping make sure they stay asleep while being stalked.
Patience Cousin! Has a super funky guitar and bass intro to strut slowly across the room too, before a cheeky conversation trying to make sure that you don’t get too antsy waiting for that delivery. The Wreckers is lyrically at odds with the rather pretty music, Michael singing about how everything is getting wrecked and a cliff is collapsing. The strings that come in and out of the mix have a very Philly soul sound to them.
Say What You Want brings the funk, while telling you to keep your secrets to yourself, the brass has a Chi-lites style groove, perfect for some serious dancefloor strutting. Just Your Love has a casual laid back elegance to all the begging and pleading to be allowed to keep on hanging on for more of your sweet, sweet love.
Walking Out On Sunny Street has a louche loping beat and restrained funkiness, a tale of fun and games between the star-crossed lovers. Tonight On The Highway a harp being plucked, for what could easily be a road worn tale of life on the road, with Ollie Halsall getting up to all sorts on guitar, While Michael was trying to get off the road and live a settled life, this feels like a breezy drive on a summer's night.
The album originally closed with Home To Tea that certainly has the feel of TV programmes that were on around teatime in the mid to late 70's, this could easily be on the soundtrack too The Railway Children or Belle & Sebastian.
The first bonus song is Silent Love by Violinski a reasonably catchy pop song with a boogie edge, that with the right promotion should have done good business, I really like the odd keyboard parts towards the end. The B-side of the Violinski single was See You In My Pillow that has hushed vocals trying to convince you to love him some more, with some odd twists including a narrator who breaks in every once in a while, before he decides to walk out on you.
The album closes with Outside In The Rain (Demo) that has a sparser arrangement, but is still a touch overblown, with the drums almost sounding in places like a drum machine, while the lyrics talk about a self-driving car, that makes this song way ahead of the game.
Find Out More at https://www.thinklikeakey.com/format/1865886-stalking-the-sleeper-50th-anniversary-edition https://www.facebook.com/george.d.albuquerque
