Song number six and Chris is pulling no punches at all here with the album’s main sermon, dressed as it is in the biblical terminology of “thou shalt not” and “thou shalt”. But it’s not just a simple lecture, wise though it may be. There’s an element of confession, fear and self admonishment here too.
Chris has commented, “The midlife crisis wrapped up in a greed induced recession ‐ its a songwriter’s perfect storm.” Chris picks at the culture of irresponsible aspiration and envy that we seem to have created for ourselves. Lottery winners, bulging bankers and boardroom bonuses and teenage football millionaires all contribute to a society where some can do what they want, while austerity means the dream is on hold for the majority and permanently taken from far too many. The saying is, “There’s always someone worse off than you are.” But do we care?
Implicit in this is need vs desire and as we grow older and our bodies start to play the tricks of that aging process on us, do we take stock? Do we count our blessings? Once again it seems that love might just be the balancing force.
Like all of the best of Chris’ songs this is complex, dressed in a gentle meander of a tune, his honest melancholy is quietly caustic as it hits its target , yet filled with a commoner’s empathy and humanity. The playng is, as throughout, simply superb.
Review by: Simon Holland
BUY THE ALBUM
None the Wiser will retail on 1st July 2013 or you can order it now from Chris Woods own website
Tour Dates
4 May Sheffield Central Library Theatre, Tudor Square, SHEFFIELD S1 1XZ.
07835 966810 / www.wegottickets.com
5 May South Lakes Rootsfest, Lane Farm, Crocklands, MILTHORPE Cumbria LA7 7NH.
0114 2349979 / www.wegottickets.com
9 May St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, off Park Street, BRISTOL BS1 5RR.
0845 4024001 / www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk
10 May Electric Palace, 35 South Street, BRIDPORT Dorset DT6 3NY.
01308 426336 / www.electricpalace.org.uk
11 May The Acorn Theatre, Parade Street, PENZANCE Cornwall TR18 4BU.
01736 365520 ‐ box office / www.acorntheatre.co.uk
12 May Topsham Folk Club, Matthews Hall, Fore Street, TOPSHAM, Devon, EX3 0HF.
01404 44498 / www.topshamfolkclub.co.uk
16 May Theatre Severn, Frankwell Quay, SHREWSBURY Shropshire SY3 8HQ.
01743 281281 / www.theatresevern.co.uk
17 May Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, The Precincts, CANTERBURY, Kent CT1 2EH
01227 831493 / www.folkinthebarn.co.uk / Box Office info@folkinthebarn.co.uk
21 May St George’s Hall Liverpool, St George’s Place, LIVERPOOL Merseyside L1 1JJ.
0151 709 3789 / www.liverpoolphil.com
22 May The Glee Club, BIRMINGHAM
Box Office: www.glee.co.uk/birmingham‐music / 0871 472 0400
23 May Union Chapel, Compton Avenue, Islington, LONDON N1 2UN.
08444 771 000 / www.pulluptheroots.co.uk
24 May The Guildhall Derby, Derby Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DERBY DE1 3AH.
01332 255800 / www.assemblyrooms‐derby.co.uk
25 May Winchester Discovery Centre, Jewry Street, WINCHESTER, Hants, SO23 8SB
01962 873603 / www.hants.gov.uk/wdc
26 May The Basement, 24 Kensington Street, BRIGHTON, East Sussex, BN1 4AJ.
www.thebasement.uk.com