Independent (label)
06 June 2019 (released)
06 July 2019
Scott Lavene describes himself as a songwriter that makes punk ballads and gutter pop. His Essex roots are part of his very essence and this is his debut album. And it is … remarkable.
He has a great way with words, a manner of taking themes that almost anyone would recognize from their own lives and creating memorable songs that make you feel part of you, the listener.
His ‘sound’ is very much his own although I can hear traces of Ian Dury, Gifford/Tillbrook and even 10CC in his tales and every track follows a different musical path – at the heart of all of it though is his Essex wide-boy twang and those wonderful and illuminating words.
The album consists of 10 tracks and a good few have been released as singles so listeners to BBC Radio 6 may be familiar with some of them but there are plenty of new items to attract the experienced Levene listeners as well as new ones.
One of my favourites – and the one that has most repeats on my system, is ‘Light Of The Moon’. I guess autobiographical, he describes working in Dagenham, being chucked by his girlfriend after she left him for a banker, relocating to the south of France, living with a hooker in Amsterdam and all in a five minute number that just makes you want to hear the rest of his story.
Then there is the title track where, over a slow, ponderous beat, he lays out a dark tale of life on the edges when you’re “Broke, Skint, Strapped, Brassic”. A wonderful track but not easy listening by any extent.
On a lighter note is the slightly deranged sounding ‘Apples And Pears’ with a Primus sounding musical journey as he sings of the delights of not being ‘normal’.
I haven’t found a single track is either simple or filler, a good few that are challenging to enjoy but generally every song has real quality and a unique voice behind them.
Do not miss this, it’s special.
