JACKIE LEVEN – GOTHIC ROAD (Kritik, Kopfzeile „Bergensvennen …“)

The review, in a column of new releases, opens with a quip about the “Bergensvennen” (“friend of Bergen”), who spits out live albums and odd compilations faster than most. Now and then, however, comes a more official release such as the fresh Gothic Road, on which, “in the spirit of earlier albums”, he collaborates with a number of people, most noticeably the “Streets of London” troubadour Ralph McTell.

Leven has found his very own voice and hardly moves outside the winning formula. Few artists have as strong a lyrical vein as the Scot; it ranges from the deeply philosophical, through the warmly reminiscing, to the pensively funny in the ode to lonely life on tour, “Hotel Mini Bar”. He even uses a Russian choir of brothers of men who died in the Kursk disaster. As usual with Leven’s records, there are many layers to leaf through. The critic’s download tips are “My Lost Blonde” and “Island”. The author’s name and rating cannot be made out in the newspaper scan.