Skotsk magi

This short review in Drammens Tidende (29 January 2000) opens by saying there is no one who sings like the Scot Jackie Leven. He is a folksy troubadour, a “pop carpenter” and former rocker with Doll By Doll in the late 1970s. After many years away from music he returned with The Mystery Of Love Is Greater Than The Mystery Of Death, one of the ten best albums of the 1990s. Over the following years he has been very productive, and now the “friend of Norway”, who will soon tour there, is back with Defending Ancient Springs – album number 18, the paper says.

Singled out are David Thomas of the cult band Pere Ubu, who sings with Leven on the classic “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (“incidentally a lovely version”), and the ballad “Single Father”. On a couple of tracks Leven tries new paths that are “a little more Paris, Texas”, more Ry Cooder and Tom Waits. Musicians from the circles of James, The Christians and Lighthouse Family take part. The critic is once again “completely lost” in this special singer’s world of poverty, fate, love and the belief that it will all work out in the end.

Leven, he concludes, is an artist you develop a personal relationship with; anyone who has not yet heard his fine voice should do so now. Verdict: “Recommended!” (MNW). The author cannot be identified.