Album Review: Sarandon – Age Of Reason
I must confess to not having heard Sarandon before so when ‘Age of Reason’ landed on my doorstep it was with interest that I read in the press release that the recording before me was a concept album about a character called Big Trev who’s not necessarily happy with his lot. Yes, an indie concept album – run for the hills!
Only joking, come back! This is actually rather good! The album takes the form of a narrative from protagonist Big Trev interlaced with songs. Trev is a pragmatic chap who knows he could have done better in his life and had more, but equally knows that it’s his own failings that stopped him. With a gruff cigarette laced voice (think Arthur Smith) there’s signs of bitterness as he sarcastically refers to boys in a nightclub chatting up the girls with their lovely clothes, ‘I can’t wear lovely clothes because I’m too big, they don’t make clothes like that in my size’ he grumbles. Sounding like he’s telling his story from a bar, Trev’s words seem to get more slurred as the record progresses. Musically ‘The Age Of Reason’ is loaded with clever but awkward songs featuring guitars and drums that crash, bang , clatter and gallop as lyrics are more chanted than sung. Thought the songs are as entertaining as the narrative, I’m not entirely convinced the two compliment each other , though as with the songs Trev’s life has a feeling of disorder; ‘you know those times…everything’s perfect, it happens so rarely that when it doesn’t you can’t believe it’s actually happening to you’.
The Age Of Reason’ is a fascinating album that, perhaps surprisingly, not only stands up to repeated listens but seems to deliver something new every time you listen to it. I love this album, it’s unusual, smart and brave, but we’ll leave the last word to Big Trev – ‘I try to go through life and not actually cause people grief’, what a guy! 8/10
Mark Cousens
Out now on OddBox Records / Slumberland Records
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