Album review

R M Hubbert

First & Last

added: 14 Apr 2010 // release date: 1 Apr 2010 // label: Ubisano
reviewer: Andy Snipper

There are albums that you ‘get’ on first listen and that blast their way into your consciousness and then ther are albums that are niggling at you, below the surface, until you realise that there is a work of art in your player that is simply breathtaking; this is one of the latter and an absolute delight to boot.

Mr Hubbert is an acoustic guitarist – here at least – any he has been around the Glasgow scene for years. The likes of Nick Cave, Sebadoh & Mike Watt have used him and this album is released under the auspices of a Creative Commons license meaning that you pay what you like for the music; a lot of responsibility on the listener.
However, the result is delicious. Softly played guitar with no ‘production’ to speak of and a close acoustic that makes the listener part of the music as there is no background buzz to tag on to – the music is the thing. If you want a pigeon-hole there is a strong Flamenco element to the music but not the explosive, stampy sort.

He creates a mood of contemplative ease; you think about the music and inhabit the space he creates but he doesn’t force anything on you as the listener – it is your task to interpret what he is saying.

This won’t appeal to everyone, it is far too grown-up for that, but within its 9 tracks there is enough variety to satisfy most while sticking to a form.
Listen and love it.

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