Crazy Man Michael - The Green Light

Named after the Fairport Convention song, Crazy Man Michael takes such classic English narrative songwriting as a touchstone and adds a literate, romantic edge that encompasses folk traditions from Bert Jansch to Iron & Wine. Using almost entirely acoustic instrumentation, 'The Green Light' loosely takes F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' as its emotional inspiration. It is intelligent, subtly yet openly political and unafraid to be emotionally raw; searching, sensitive, weather-beaten but always hopeful. In short, a very special record. The 9 songs collected here bring to mind the passion of 1960s folk clubs, the joy and hurt of relationships and the paradoxes inherent in living and loving. 'Falling' relocates mariachi trumpets on the windswept moors of Northern England while 'Reaching Out' presents a new take on Nick Drake's 'Bryter Layter' string-quartet songs. 'Night's Journey', the album's darkest moment, is the most unsettling song here, dirge-like and funereal but totally compelling with it's detuned guitar and layered drones. Throughout, David Christensen's (Buck 65, Gabriel Minnikin) beautiful string arrangements frame the songs perfectly, allowing Michael's bruised voice a comfort his lyrics rarely afford him. That contrast of lush strings with melodic mandolin lines, the inventive percussion of Sam Lench and the deft mixing hand of James Youngjohns (Anna Kashfi, Last Harbour) sets the album apart from contemporaries in it's ambitious instrumentation and vocal arrangements. 'The Green Light' offers cautious hope in uncertain times, a gentle plea to hold true to ideals alongside the madness of the modern landscape. Crazy Man Michael comes to you with his arms open wide and his heart optimistic and proud! Now's the time to join his growing army of gentle souls.

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