Play It With Care
Marjorie Fair have produced a musically melancholic, melodic album here. “Waves” is more up-tempo in its beat, and is a number that is just too cool. And with “Cracks in The Wall”- there’s poetry in here that would put a smile on Jim Morrison’s face: “I don’t live here any more/ there’s too many windows and too many doors”- and music that has the early Pink Floyd sound. (Think of “See Emily Play”)
Although Evan’s voice is totally individual, lovers of The Kinks’ Ray Davies will hear echoes in it. That is the kind of cool that this album attains. If this were the sixties then Marjorie Fair would be at number one. The band have obviously put this album together with the depth of feeling and ability that only the true music poets among us can.
It’s hard to put a label on “Self Help Serenade”. technically it is brilliant. Musically it is stunning. It’s different enough to make it a must have, but it is overwhelming. So play it with care, and with love.