Nicky WoulffeKevin Rowland is no stranger to writing about love in his music or in his recent autobiography Bless Me Father. His book was indeed looking back on his traumas, relationships, and regrets he had throughought his life.
Love is the seventh album from Dexys Midnight Runners since they released their debut album 46 years ago Searching for Young Soul Rebels. I truly loved their last album, The Feminine Divine, for its rawness, salvation, and rescue. Love has a sensitivity about it which makes it quite an endearing record. Kevin Rowland kept the musicians from The Feminine Divine, namely the core of Dexys: Sean Read and Mike Timothy.
A Slow-Burning Sound
Love is beautifully constructed by producer David Holmes and it reveals itself slowly with horns and strings. These are used just when needed, as opposed to the early albums which were loud and brash. The producer is key to the album as he approaches it like it is one of his own projects. The record is the better for it.
The outstanding feature on this album is the wonderful voice of Kevin Rowland. It soars at times and is very emotive as he sweeps from lullaby to anger.
Dexys early albums were always full of passion and love and always played a central role on their records. A fine example would be “Because Of You” released as a standalone single in 1986 from the TV program “Brush Strokes”.
Love, Loss and Forgiveness
On this album “It’s Over Now” and “I’ll Always Love” mourn lost love. Only Rowland can talk so passionately about subjects many others would find difficult and sometimes would be off putting for many in a pop music song. Another stand out song on the album is “Old Love” which deals with not being seen by the younger generation.
“Once A Man, Twice A Child”, one of the more beautiful tracks, sees a sense of fulfilment shine through. It captures Rowland caring for his father before he passed away at 102. “I thought I’d never see the day. When I be at peace with you, it just shows what love can do”. A sense of forgiveness for himself and words he did not get to say to his dad when he was living.
The album includes a cover of Tim Buckley’s “Strange Feeling”. Rowland sounds and delivers the song just like Van Morrison.
The word love is sung more than 60 times on the album: old love, lost love, parental love, love for the country, and worries about the future of the world.
The Curtain Falls
Like all of Dexys Midnight Runners’ albums, Love has its highs and lows — although they are very few on this record.
Rowland’s final few bars on the album finish it off just perfectly when he sings “I’ll learn from it now.I’ll take my happiness where I find it”. He leaves us with the words, “If love is goodnight”, the last words of the album.
With that, Kevin Rowland brings the curtain down on one amazing career of one of The UK’s best ever bands and he has done so with a five star performance.
