It is another golden autumn day today. I was sitting in the
yard enjoying the sunshine when there was a knock on the door. The post lady handed
me a package which contained the new album by Keith Christmas called Life,
Life. “That was quick”, I thought to myself because I had only ordered it
on Sunday. The first impression I had was that I liked the attractive artwork
on the sleeve by David Alderslade. I wonder if he is related to John
Alderslade of Village Pump Folk Club fame? It was at the Village Pump in
Trowbridge about eight years ago that I first saw Keith Christmas perform. He
made a live album that night which I bought, and I have been a fan ever since.
When I put the CD in the machine, I immediately loved the
opening song Round The Stones which is about the Stonehenge Festival of
1979. For a person like me who lives in Wiltshire and has been to Stonehenge
for the solstice this song is a bit special. I have shared a video of Keith
singing the song below if you would like to hear it. I would love to see Keith
perform this song actually at the stones or Avebury or even at the stone circle
on the Glastonbury Festival site. That would make a great video. The eponymous
title track Life Life is next. It is a life affirming song about how we
have minor misfortunes but soon get over it and can even use it to our
advantage. I like how the lyrics are reflected in the artwork with the open
window and the litter of hedgehogs. Love In The Gold is a very touching
love song about ageing and how love doesn’t care about a few grey hairs and being
forgetful. Wonderful Ride is another optimistic song which makes you
feel grateful to be alive.
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| Keith recently at Beckenham Bandstand. |
A Gun In His Hand by
contrast is a much darker angry anti-war song which warns that people who
experience the horrors of war never get over it. The sentiment of the lyrics
reminded me of Dylan’s Masters Of War. I think Travelling Blues is a
quasi-autobiographical song about life on the road for a musician. Trouble
Trouble might be a warning about pride coming before a fall and
some pompous people who think the laws of karma don’t apply to them should
learn some humility. You only have to watch the news to think that. I haven’t
mentioned what a great guitarist Keith is. I don’t play the guitar so I can’t
really comment on his technical virtuosity. I just know what I like, and I don’t
think there are many acoustic guitar players these days more skillful than
Keith. His great guitar playing is amply demonstrated on Who’s Going To Save
You?
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| Glastonbury 1970 (Keith in afghan jacket) |
The Love That Surrounds You is a
wonderful emotive song which I think might be about giving advice to a friend
who could be suffering with depression. As well as Keith’s guitar playing the
other thing I like about him is his very distinctive singing voice. Keith
conveys emotion in his voice very well and you believe that he means every
word. Ruled By The Tide is a story of a nostalgic trip down memory lane
to the seaside town when he was born. In the lyrics it mentions a Nottage
Institute which I had never heard of, so I looked it up. It is a maritime
charity named after Captain Charles G. Nottage. It is a great song.
Born Of God takes its inspiration
from the signing of the Magna Carta at Runnymede. It is a song that I think is
very relevant to this country today. I like the line ‘For We’ll never follow
a leader with no honour, it will come to no good in the end’, so, listen up
Boris Johnson! The final song is Book Of Magic which is a charming song
about having an idea for a book, being rejected but still persevering. I think
the answer is to self-publish. It is a very nice song with which to end this
most enjoyable album.
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| Captain Charles G. Nottage. |
Keith Christmas played on David Bowie’s Space Oddity album
and recently played in Beckenham for the 50th anniversary of a
concert where he played on the same bill as Bowie in 1969. It was the gig that Bowie immortalised in Memory Of a Free Festival. He also played at
the first Glastonbury Festival in 1970 and I think Michael Eavis should book
him for the 50th anniversary festival next year. If you want to
learn more about Keith Christmas you can visit his website here- https://www.becn.co.uk
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