Mark Butcher – Now Playing

Mark Butcher

Now Playing

(Man In The Moon)

A long-awaited second album from the singer and guitarist, who often appears in the all-star Boom Band (featuring our pals Matt Taylor and Jon Amor) live performances. Here, Mark is in the company of Smiley Barnard, drums and Andy Lewis bass plus Alex Richards keys and Pete Twyman on guitar and keys. The first two things that strike this listener about this set are the sheer purposefulness of the unit as they serve up the songs…and the fact that Butcher sings very much in the vocal range of Steve Marriott and Steve Ellis. This imbues some of the cuts with a strident early Mod impact. No bad thing. Though I can’t sing along, too high!!

Daybreak kicks things off with a definite Small Faces vibe and punchy band sound. A decent rock-soul outing. Country mines a Bo Diddley beat and is a single. The beat that George Michael massacred, rescued to respectability here. Some sonic tricks burst out of the mix. Dice is a thumping song with chattering guitar runs. Hate To See You Cry is a ballad put over with strength and a noble guitar run over a steady arrangement.

On to Civil War which has a pretty melody and deft construction, the kind of number Andy Fairweather Low comes up with. The piano sound is cool and the bass runs well placed. One of the superior cuts. Next up The Darkest Night, a Twyman tune based on a soft stomp with an almost Merseybeat tinge. The guitar break is nicely tough over the vamping piano and McCartneyesque bass. Still In Love is a moody midnight piece, all hanging chords and spiky guitar, with the beaters used on the drums to great effect. Sounds like a future live favourite. Cries out for a muted trumpet!

All Hung Up On You presents a tightly-sprung tune with emphatic drumming and a touch of Jimi’s Stone Free. Quite catchy. Candle That Lit The Fuse is a subtle cut maybe influenced by Hall & Oates, probably the best vocal performance here.You Picked A Fine Time rides an easy swagger as Mark sings of love.

Ray goes heavy, with doomy piano and that Mod slowie feel. The tempo is well handled here. Times Are Hard has a dark ambience, centred on human troubles and Butcher’s undoubted empathy for those suffering. A strong showing from all, here. To finish, we get Take Hold Of This Man with its busy funk mood and soul vocal. Easily the best track on the set imho.

Pete Sargeant