I do not understand why Chantel McGregor isn’t playing to sold out arenas and stadia. She is, and has been, one of the most mercurial of British guitarists, starting off in the Blues and developing her chops through rock, psychedelia, metal and even touches of Americana. Every album sees her playing and songwriting improve, to the point where she can make an album like this – showing off everything she can do, without making it feel as though it is a show reel. Don’t make any mistake, this is an album from a lady who is absolutely at the top of her game, leaving any less than perfect material by the wayside.
McGregor has, for the first time, aligned herself with others in the writing and producing. Wayne Proctor and Oli Brown right in the heart of the songs Oli Brown handles what Chantel describes as “programming and synth-y things” and is also a co-producer. “I’ve known Oli for donkey’s years, but when I heard the work he was doing with his band The Dead Collective I really wanted to see if we could do something together,” McGregor states. Wayne Proctor, another member of The Dead Collective, handled production mixing and mastering. In a huge break with tradition, both Oli and Wayne were involved heavily in the songwriting process. “Working with them has given me a completely new angle on things,” McGregor states proudly. “I’ve used synths before, but bringing in a Moog really boosted my creativity because it made me think outside the box. Best of all, it all felt completely natural.” “I’ve really loved making what I consider to be a mash-up of dark, grungy heavy rock with my prog influences – the weird time signatures and the Moog,” Chantel continues. “To me, it sounds really interesting.”
‘The Healing’ is the next logical step of McGregor’s journey. “This is definitely, definitely a rock album – not a blues album,” stresses Chantel. “It’s heavy and dark and it introduces elements of prog-rock, which is a form of music I absolutely love. It has those ‘wobbly synth vibes’ from the 1980s,” she continues, laughing. “Steven Wilson went down that route of being disturbing, dark and also slightly wobbly. It’s got a bit of that.” McGregor insists that ‘The Healing’ is not a concept record. “Its central themes are loss, grief and heartbreak, but the album isn’t exclusively about sadness because we come out the other side of it all,” she explains. “There is light and positivity at the end of the tunnel.”
From the opening track, ‘I Will Breathe’, there is a powerful dynamic. Solid bass and drums, massive guitar riffage and a little girl vocal that tempers the maelstrom behind her. The track builds and builds, running through changes and leaving the listener battered and replete at the end of it. And this is only track 1.
That is followed by ‘Broken Heartless Liar’, and it feels as though we are getting to a central theme of the album. A powerful diatribe against a user, an abuser. Chantel delivers a superb vocal and a great solo.
‘Tears’ is another part of the story, soft and emotional, she brings all the weapons out against her opponent, it feels as though she is singing of a final shattering of the ties and the inevitable self-doubt that follows.
The third part of the theme – the breakthrough. ‘Stand On My Own’ is all positive, all about taking control - and standing or falling.
From there, the songs are individual, but still in that theme of escape from control, but sound as though they describe the inner emotions of a talent emerging from self-imposed controls. Chrysalis and butterfly come to mind. McGregor’s songwriting is at its best at the moment and her playing is sublime.
I would probably pick ‘Truth Will Out’ as one of my tracks of the year. Chantel moving through the changes and delivering a massive statement.
The title track, the closer to the album is memorable for its emotional depth and power. McGregor was moved to write it after her mum was seriously ill. “We nearly lost her,” she reveals, struggling to keep the emotion from her voice. “God alone knows how I’m going to sing the one live. It will be emotional.”
A case could be made for the statement that ‘The Healing’ is the first time that we have seen the real Chantel McGregor. “That’s right,” she affirms enthusiastically. “This album is a hundred per cent me, like you’ve never seen me before.”
‘The Healing’ is one of the most satisfying albums I’ve heard this year. Absolutely essential.
