RUPERT WATES: Dear Life

Rupert Wates

Dear Life

© 2008 Rupert Wates (875531003994)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

Acoustic, melodic art/folk

notes

London born, US-based singer/songwriter Wates turns his sights on the gathering storm clouds with this collection of eleven songs that brood on the violence and danger of the modern world. Simple, almost stark instrumentation, a live-in-the-studio recording ethic, and outstanding contributions from virtuoso bassist Michael Manring, reinforce the power and passion of Wates' vision of the forces that threaten life.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • "A true tunesmith"
    author: Jim Testa

    Wates' voice sounds like a clearer and more theatrical Gordon Lightfoot...Each song is a single piece, without any blending into each other, the mark of a true tunesmith. Wates definitely has a way with words, thought structures, melody lines and musicianship, and I truly believe this is worth a listen" (Jim Testa, www.jerseybeat.com)

  • "One of the best"
    author: Jon Sirkis

    "One of the best CDs of 2008" (Jon Sirkis, Indie Acoustic Project)

  • "Every cut's a gem"
    author: Mark S Tucker

    'Man, this guy sings from the heart and then some! Carrying on the most fundamental and irreducible aspects of the troubadour/balladeer/protester, Rupert Wates is a glorious throwback to the old Woody, Pete, Phil Ochs days filtered through a bit of Harry Chapin, English strains, and Bruce Cockburn. Enlisting the wondrous bassist Michael Manring and percussionist Chris Howard, he keeps to spare but vibrant atmospheres - and Howard is quite the offest complement to Manring's sinuous lines. This is Wates' third release and it's a completely authentic work that would be more expected of a 30-year old road and studio vet...There's a secret to the immediacy of this set, though: every song was captured straight out, no overdubs, and most of them in a single run-through. A lot of great music has been made in this fashion, and Dear Life joins the august. Each song yanks the listener fully into the story and rhythms, not to mention an emotionality imbuing Wates' plaintively melodic voice. Every cut's a gem, completely absorbing, enthralling, and thus we have a new and unique songwriter-musician already in the front ranks...Trust me, Rupert Wates is an exceedingly rare talent' (Mark S Tucker, for Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange)

  • "Real magic"
    author: Rob Quicke

    ' "You'll See Me Again" is one of the best songs I've heard in a long, long time. There's real magic in that song' (Rob Quicke, Britsound Radio)

  • 'An accessible album with a message'
    author: Christopher Nosnibor

    'The music is sparse and immediate...straightforward, warm, honest, unpretentious, soft and largely upbeat. Which makes for the biggest surprise, as the lyrical content is pretty dark and weighty...In 'Dear Life', Wates has produced an accessible album with a message and carried it off nicely' (Christopher Nosnibor, "Whisperin and Hollerin")

  • 'A writer who makes you think while he entertains'
    author: Chris Kocher

    '(A)socially conscious writer who makes you think while he entertains...On his new CD...Rupert Wates manages that tricky tightrope with great skill, offering eleven tunes unafraid to pose the tough questions about the here and now' (Chris Kocher, Pressconnects.com)

  • A musical triumph
    author: Catesby Jones

    Rupert Wates’ third CD “Dear Life” is one of the most significant and compelling recordings of the decade. The common thread of human mortality weaves the entire work into a musical tapestry that teeters between life and death, hope and despair, peace and war, love and rage. The entire collection of photos is shot in black, white and sepia with the exception of the centerpiece, an American flag draped over the hood of an automobile, which speaks volumes about the motivation for the Iraq war. Through their expressions of scorn and proud resolve, the juvenile couple in the cover shot seems to be saying “what kind of world have you left us?” The final photo of a father, scarred by the realities of life embodied in his resplendent tattoos, holds the promise of the future in a baby, pure and clean. Rupert’s mastery of the guitar is unparalleled, and when coupled with his high tenor and authoritative British accent, a musical collage unfolds with selections ranging from the jazz masterpiece, “Fairy Tales” about a mother’s protective love, to the swampy “Please God” which questions a deity’s role in natural disasters. The first three salvos will leave any compassionate listener embarrassed to be a part of our warring, ecologically indifferent human race only to be uplifted by the fourth entry “I Dream” which will resurrect even the most discouraged heart. Other outstanding cuts include “The Sound of Applause” which explores Mr. Wates’ very personal relationship with his late father along with “Now I’m Here”, a song of commitment to a most unexpected love affair. Rounding out the project is the tragic “Fifty Shots”, “The Blackness of the Night”, an infectious pub sing along, and the after thought “You’ll See Me Again” which transports the listener to Paris and no doubt a simpler time for the singer. The contributions of Michael Manring on fretless bass and Chris Howard on percussion intertwine to create a rousing affair sparsely colored with electric guitar, harmonica, drums and backing vocals from singers including the lovely Stacey Lorin. The most remarkable piece of this puzzle is that Evan Brubacker captured ten songs live in the studio in one weekend in the Pacific Northwest. This project is a must listen for every concerned citizen of the world and a musical triumph for the remarkably talented Rupert Wates.

email

Please log in to email this artist.