‘Ramble’ is the new album from Steve Thompson AKA Blabbermouth. Steve is what would be described as a modern folk musician with an excellent line in songwriting. He originates from Littlehampton, relocated to London, and currently lives on a 45ft narrow boat which traverses the canals and waterways of England as he goes from gig to gig.
I imagine the title ‘Blabbermouth’ stems from the fact that Steve is the sort of person who does not have an economy with words. His lyrics are full of delightful and witty observations that really make this an album worth listening to. There are eleven tracks on the album, all of which fall broadly within the folk genre.
Opening with ‘I Like The Birds’, Steve’s vocals are slightly reminiscent of Neil Young, however, the content of the lyrics is quintessentially English: - “I like the birds more than my friends/ But that don't mean that I don't wanna see you again/
I like your face more than your mind/ But that don't mean that you’re not truly one of kind.” This is a gentle love song, with some clever wordplay, as Steve notes how his partner catalogues his shortcomings: - "Then you'll laugh at me cos I can't bait my hook/ And then poke fun because I've never read the book.” This then opens into a chorus which sinks its hooks straight into the listener, and doesn’t let up.
‘No Net Curtains In New York’ follows, and this is the track that has been selected as the forthcoming single. It across almost as a stream of consciousness poem, with Steve observing how people live their lives in the Big Apple: - “Are there are no net curtains in New York?/ Lip reading superseding early morning walks/ Bathrobed married ladies, arguments and gravy pouring/ Window style TV, the only place to see New York/ Are there no net curtains in New York?"
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Then there's the magnificent ‘Old Grey London’ whereby Steve talks about his love/hate relationship with the capital city. This song is augmented by strings, which adds to Steve’s guitar playing, and make this a poignant song: “Oh London town, how I am used to you, your curvy streets and countless avenues/ I pass them by without a sigh, without a point of view/ you grew fat and old and I'm not sure if I still love you.”
My favourite track on the album is the wonderful ‘Dust’, an acoustic folk song with possibly the best lyrics about untidiness woven into a love song that I’ve ever heard:“Should I sing about the dust in the corner of the room?/ As it formulates a crust and won't be going very soon/ And there's a moth between the curtain and the window/ And there's a new hole in the shirt I bought at Heathrow."
'Ramble's a wonderful album, definitely one that is worth seeking out, especially if you like your music with witty intelligent lyrics and keen observations of life’s minutiae. If so, this 'un can't fail to hit the spot.
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