released: December 2007
| intro-pipes |
| bleat |
| hard line |
| be good |
| something really great |
| gimme some truth |
| raining in my heart |
| interlude |
| safe |
| the last thing i know |
| outerlude |
"Continuing to confound expectations and push the sonic boundaries of what a
singer/songwriter really is, New Yorker Russell Hubley returns here with new album
REFRACTOR. Much like it's superb predecessor, CAVERN MUSIC, REFRACTOR is a
record that deftly criss crosses genres and styles, from the trip hop meets offbeat
funk of BLEAT to the blues squall of HARD LINE, Hubley briefly metamorphosing into
some bizarre Gary Moore meets Beck type character; a sound seemingly millions of
miles from the moody Ian Curtis like solemnity of his darker sounding moments.
It's this musical schizophrenia though that propels Russell Hubley to such musically
lofty heights, the lo-fi folkisms of BE GOOD - another radical shift in directions, this
time round, the singer/songwriter wearing his bluegrass and depression era folk
influences on his sleeve and crafting a timeless tune that plays out like some long
lost Americana classic. Continuing the restless musical mood swinging, SOMETHING
REALLY GREAT is a lurching psychobilly groover that pays homage to the Cramps
and Killing Joke, Hubley employing distorted vocals and chugging guitar noise.
Putting a garage rocking spin on John Lennon's GIMME SOME TRUTH, Russell
Hubley does a pretty decent impersonation job, capturing that sneering attitude and
cementing his place in any Beatles tribute band that'll have him. A more downbeat
take on Buddy Holly's RAINING IN MY HEART finds Hubley injecting a more personal,
confessional spin on things; this time round delivering something that feels much
more from the depths of the soul, rather than straight up karaoke.
SAFE is a tender, heartfelt tune that echoes that Beatles influence, Hubley adopting
another Lennon-esque croon, whilst pretty slide guitar licks are reminiscent of
George Harrison at his finest. With closing number, THE LAST THING I KNOW,
Russell Hubley ends things in similarly low key and heartfelt ways, crooning gently
over tender acoustic guitars and the occasional drum snare, evoking Laurel Canyon
singer/songwriter greats and climaxing in a laid back mellow haze of delicate beauty.
REFRACTOR is another record from Russell Hubley that somehow defies
generalisation and pigeon holing, this New York singer/songwriter refusing to bow
down to conventions, someone much more inclined to defy expectations and hop
from genre to genre as the mood takes him. In places warm and inviting, at other
times downbeat and intense, REFRACTOR is anything but predictable, but it is a
record that is at all times wonderful and intriguing."
singer/songwriter really is, New Yorker Russell Hubley returns here with new album
REFRACTOR. Much like it's superb predecessor, CAVERN MUSIC, REFRACTOR is a
record that deftly criss crosses genres and styles, from the trip hop meets offbeat
funk of BLEAT to the blues squall of HARD LINE, Hubley briefly metamorphosing into
some bizarre Gary Moore meets Beck type character; a sound seemingly millions of
miles from the moody Ian Curtis like solemnity of his darker sounding moments.
It's this musical schizophrenia though that propels Russell Hubley to such musically
lofty heights, the lo-fi folkisms of BE GOOD - another radical shift in directions, this
time round, the singer/songwriter wearing his bluegrass and depression era folk
influences on his sleeve and crafting a timeless tune that plays out like some long
lost Americana classic. Continuing the restless musical mood swinging, SOMETHING
REALLY GREAT is a lurching psychobilly groover that pays homage to the Cramps
and Killing Joke, Hubley employing distorted vocals and chugging guitar noise.
Putting a garage rocking spin on John Lennon's GIMME SOME TRUTH, Russell
Hubley does a pretty decent impersonation job, capturing that sneering attitude and
cementing his place in any Beatles tribute band that'll have him. A more downbeat
take on Buddy Holly's RAINING IN MY HEART finds Hubley injecting a more personal,
confessional spin on things; this time round delivering something that feels much
more from the depths of the soul, rather than straight up karaoke.
SAFE is a tender, heartfelt tune that echoes that Beatles influence, Hubley adopting
another Lennon-esque croon, whilst pretty slide guitar licks are reminiscent of
George Harrison at his finest. With closing number, THE LAST THING I KNOW,
Russell Hubley ends things in similarly low key and heartfelt ways, crooning gently
over tender acoustic guitars and the occasional drum snare, evoking Laurel Canyon
singer/songwriter greats and climaxing in a laid back mellow haze of delicate beauty.
REFRACTOR is another record from Russell Hubley that somehow defies
generalisation and pigeon holing, this New York singer/songwriter refusing to bow
down to conventions, someone much more inclined to defy expectations and hop
from genre to genre as the mood takes him. In places warm and inviting, at other
times downbeat and intense, REFRACTOR is anything but predictable, but it is a
record that is at all times wonderful and intriguing."
UK MUSIC REVIEW
by Mike Bond (November, 2008):
by Mike Bond (November, 2008):