Tom McRae - All Maps Welcome ( 02 May 2005 Sony/BMG)

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Tom McRae
Tom McRae - All Maps Welcome ( 02 May 2005 Sony/BMG) - Album Review

Tom McRae - All Maps Welcome ( 02 May 2005 Sony/BMG) - Album Review

Tom McRae
All Maps Welcome

An emotionally liberating third album, or an even better description of this artefact would be that Mr. McRae is the tour guide in a compelling, refreshing and laid back journey through life’s beauty, the mysteries of it and human emotions. The soothing style that trundles along in a laid back and friendly manner with McRae’s acoustically prominent instrumentals sends you off on a journey that omits the weariness of travel. The captivating 'Humming Bird Song’ wistfully weaves itself way into your conscience, as it glides peacefully around you like, well, the trochilidae member in the song title.

With six tracks out of eleven on this offering, weighing in at the four minute plus mark, McRae demonstrates ability to slowly and subtly build up emotion with a similar craft and skill attributed to writer Dylan Thomas. ‘ Silent Boulevard’ is a case in point and represents the liveliest piece on the album, featuring the Finn Bros spiced up with a droplet of Damien Rice type vocals, plus a clattering and clanging accompaniment that facilitates the graceful wrestle with the topic of the cruel nature of humanity.

One thing stands out more than anything in subtle, slow and melodic offerings and that is the lyrics, especially when they are delivered with the soaring and compelling nature of the earnest Mr. McRae. The rousing chorus concealed within ‘The Girl Who Falls Downstairs’, aptly demonstrate the lyrical prowess that is on display on this album;

“And I see myself turn into something else, turn into someone else for a while.

And I know I might run into this night, running another dream to the ground.”

With a crafted backing band that includes the cruising piano riffs of Olli Cunning; music, magic and imagination have a seductive soiree in the listener’s mind. ‘All Maps Welcome’ is one of the most polished and unpretentious offerings around lately, with Mcrae’s tender touch having the ability to calm down even the likes of Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer.

Check out one of Tom Mcrae’s live performances when he steps out on tour in support of Tori Amos in June

June 2005
Thursday 2 Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Friday 3 London Hammersmith Apollo
Saturday 4 London Hammersmith Apollo
Sunday 5 Manchester Apollo
Tuesday 7 Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
Wednesday 8 Newcastle City Hall
Thursday 9 Nottingham Royal Centre
Saturday 11 Rotterdam Ahoy
Sunday 12 Brussels Forest National
Wednesday 15 Copenhagen Vega (TBC)
Thursday 16 Oslo Norwegian Wood (TBC)
Friday 17 Sweden Hultsfred Festival(TBC)
Sunday 19 Kolding Theatre (TBC)
Monday 20 Hamburg StadtPark
Tuesday 21 Berlin Tempodrom
Thursday 23 Bonn MuseamSplatz
Friday 24 Munich Philharmonie
Tuesday 28 Frankfurt Alte Opera

http://www.tommcrae.com

David Adiar

In Demand