Irregular (label)
23 February 2018 (released)
16 February 2018
This is Forrester’s fourth album and I have to say that he takes me back to the real days of bedsit heroes and singer/songwriters who can put over emotion and tell stories that really take you to the places you feel rather than view.
The songs are gentle and impassioned and manage to describe the changes that he was going through throughout the recording of the album. He touches on the loss of a relative to terminal illness as well as the loneliness of a touring musician, the sense of displacement and of never being in quite the right place at any time.
His voice and gently strummed guitar sit at the centre of the music but working with producer Roy Dodds (Fairground Attraction) has taught him to leave space in the songs and the focusing on the lyrics make this his most effective album yet.
All through the album he is changing mood and tempo, introducing little musical twists that place the music somewhere else.
He opens with a predominantly acapella piece ‘Richmond Hill’ that has a folk feel to it and an incredibly subtle string backing making the piece poignant and deeply personal while elsewhere he takes the listener into the darkness of a song such as ‘Dream Of Home’ filled with reminiscences and an ethereal flute.
In many respects he reminds me of early Al Stewart or Cat Stevens – possibly even Peter Sarstedt – and in a world filled with music that is loud, boastful and completely ignores the listener, this is a wonderful relief, an album that talks to the listener and allows feelings to be accepted.
I spent a lot of time involving myself in this album – a piece of music that invites you to get closer and envelop yourself. A wonderful change of pace but only if you are prepared to give as well as receive.
