New Album Anam Cara By Oliver Wakeman

 Yes, you're right, Oliver Wakeman is the son of that other Wakeman chappie. He has a new album out, called Anam Cara. You can find out more about him here:

https://www.oliverwakeman.co.uk/

It's billed on his website as a Celtic/Rock crossover album, but Prog Radio lists it on their website as a new release and that's good enough for me.

So, I'm not a fan of Rick Wakeman's solo work, in general, as I find it over-sentimental and bombastic. And the first thing that hits you about Oliver's album is the straining emotionalism of the singer, Hayley Griffiths, formerly of Welsh progressive rock band Karnataka. For me, it's way over the top. The singer is trying way too hard. But then, that's a stylistic thing, it's an artistic choice, it's not good or bad. Technically she's clearly very accomplished - just not my cup of tea.

On the other hand, the music is really well done. Absolutely beautifully recorded instruments and arrangements. Lots of irish whistle and acoustic guitars. And, as you'd expect, lots of synths. The whole thing is full of great melodies and thankfully short of the worst excesses of his father. I feel I shouldn't be constantly referring to Rick Wakeman, but surely that's inevitable. The poor man must have spent his whole life trying to escape his father's shadow.

But is it prog? Well, we've explored many times in this blog what the nature of prog is. I've used the phrase flutes and fairies before, not to describe some kind of weird tabletop role-playing game but as a label for a particular kind of progressive rock. And we're in that world. There are lots of keyboard solos (you wouldn't expect anything). There are lots of songs which take the time to explore the world they create, which is a fancy way of saying songs longer than 3 minutes. But harmonically we're largely in Andrew Lloyd Webber territory (and not good Lloyd Webber) and it all sounds a bit obvious.

The other thing I'll say is that I find the lyrics a bit anachronistic. On the surface, you think you're in folk song territory, and you expect songs about lost loves and men who went to sea and never came back. But the lyrics are a little awkward and modern in places - and they often don't flow particularly well.

I have mixed views about this album. I'll summarise by saying if you like this sort of thing, you could really like this album. But it's not for me.

Reasons to listen:

  • You love a great melody
  • You're a fan of the other Wakeman
Reasons not to listen:
  • You can't be doing with music that tries too hard to tug on your heartstrings
Interesting fact of the day: Hayley Griffiths sang on tours of Riverdance, for which I cannot forgive her. Have you ever seen my Riverdance impression? It's not only terrible, it's also extremely culturally insensitive.

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