Artist: Pete Roe
Title: The Merry-Go-Round
Label: Communion
Genre: Acoustic
Bitrate: 162kbit av.
Time: 00:16:00
Size: 19.64 mb
Rip Date: 2010-06-17
Str Date: 2010-07-07
01. Bellina 3:51
02. Oh Susannah 4:24
03. Underneath The Apple Tree 4:22
04. The Merry-Go-Round 3:23
Release Notes:
Laura Marling is making a habit of pushing her talented band mates into
the spotlight. It certainly worked for Marcus Mumford, who was
transformed from little drummer boy into stomping folk-rock sensation.
Now is the turn of Pete Roe, who moves accomplishedly from all-round
accompaniment duties for Miss Marling to the main attraction on 4-track
E.P. Merry-Go-Round. Mumford fans, be prepared though, this could not
be more different.
Merry-Go-Round hopefully represents a delicious taster of plenty more
offerings to come, as it is, quite simply, gorgeous.
With just an acoustic guitar and his gentle, innocent voice in his
armoury, Roe has penned some classically simple, yet beautifully tender
and lilting love songs. They will resonate inside and around you long
after your 16-minute rendez-vous.
æBellinaÆ gets things started an uplifting invitation to elope. As you
soak up the exposed and rhythmic riff, RoeÆs quintessentially English
accent and honest lyrical excitement take you by the hand into the big
wide world and æacross the oceanÆ, with the kind of æseize the dayÆ
attitude that blows away the clouds of our lacklustre summer. Take me
with you, Pete.
æOh SusannahÆ, by contrast, is a wistful, reflective look back on a
missed opportunity. RoeÆs blind optimism and forgiving nature will tear
at your heartstrings, and his at-once powerful and delicate vocals will
pull your emotions to pieces.
If the tempo picks up at any point, it is on æUnderneath The Apple
TreeÆ, and it works well. It feels, almost as in a live show, as if our
protagonist has settled into his role as lead man here, and the guitar
becomes playful, almost bluesy, as the impetus builds and PeteÆs
patience and politeness are pushed aside û æI think I feel a new
beginning, as the old doors all are closedÆ.
However, title track Merry-Go-Round puts things right back in their
place. The jangling open chords are almost spidery in their tone and
the vocals become all but a whisper. Plenty of instrumental time
provides plenty of opportunity for introspection, and RoeÆs childhood
imagery hides a much more serious feeling of desire. ThereÆs a quiet
desperation to slip away from the run-of-the-mill, away from the
repetition of daily life and to be alone with his love. Powerful stuff.
Marling herself would surely be proud of this disc. In a few songs,
Pete Roe has managed take a well-trodden route and do his own thing
along the way. Ladies beware, tears may be shed, and gents, donÆt be
too proud to do it yourselves.