ARTiST: Ian Parker
TiTLE: Where I Belong
LABEL: Ruf Records
GENRE: Blues
TiME: 60:04 min
SiZE: 89,5 MB
BiTRATE: VBRkbps
RiP DATE: Feb-14-2007
RELEASE DATE: Feb-12-2007
WEBSiTE: n/a
Track List:
01. Where I Belong 04:42
02. Your Love Is My Home 05:37
03. Until You Show Me 04:16
04. Coming Home 05:25
05. Waste My Days 04:48
06. Sweet Singing Sirens 04:25
07. Love So Cold 07:10
08. Before Our Eyes 05:21
09. Don't Hold Back 06:33
10. You Could Say 06:37
11. Told My Girl To Go Away 05:10
Release Notes:
For the last decade Ian has been on a journey of
discovery, a journey which although far from over,
has already provided the young artist with a vast
array of experiences which have shaped his musical
identity.
The recording of the 'project' album, 'Pilgrimage'
in 2005, for which Parker was sent to the deep south
of America with Ruf stable-mates Aynsley Lister and
Erja Lyytinen, began a process of consolidation for
the artist. During this monumental trip, he
reconnected with his blues roots, and immediately
felt at 'home' in the place where his first true
musical love was born. On his return to Europe,
Parker set about re-examining in great detail, the
work of his blues and soul heroes. Assimilating the
lessons learnt from his less bluesy influences, his
task now was to bring all of these forces together,
in order to truly find himself.
'Where I Belong' is the result of this lengthy
artistic process. If he was ever in any doubt, Ian
Parker certainly knows who he is now.
Unquestionably, a relevant 21st century blues man,
Ian is acutely aware of the heritage of his music,
as is evident on the passionate 'Love So Cold'.
Equally he is in tune with the music of the modern
age, as is apparent in the eerie 'Don't Hold Back'
and the tortured 'Told My Girl To Go Away', and is
able to incorporate those ingredients into his own
blues stew - an essential factor in the long term
preservation of the genre. 'Until You Show Me',
'Sweet Singing Sirens', and 'Before Our Eyes' are
perfect examples of this amalgamation of styles, and
of Parker's unique approach to writing.
'Where I Belong' has plenty for guitar lovers, the
emotional soloing, which enthrals fans at Ian's live
shows, has at long last been captured in the studio.
However there is so much more on offer here than
mere instrumentalism. A distinctly expressive voice
and meaningful, heartfelt songs permeate this
landscape, covering familiar Parker topics as well
as pastures new. His ongoing search for a sense of
belonging is the subject of the album's title track,
and further self-analysis can be heard on the
hard-hitting blues rocker 'You Could Say'. The
trials and tribulations of romantic relations are
covered in the yearning blues-ballad 'Coming Home',
and the 'R&B'/Soul workout 'Your Love Is My Home'.
Parker's song-writing is not entirely focused around
his personal life on this record. On 'Waste My Days'
for example, he reflects on the common human failing
that is, the inability to 'live in the moment'.
Recorded analogue to tape, the album has the rich
and warm sonic characteristics associated with the
pre-digital age, but there is nothing retro about
this release. 'Where I Belong' has something for all
blues fans, purists and progressives alike. It
catalogues the pronounced growth and self-discovery
of a contemporary blues artist who is here to stay.