RM Hubbert – Telling the Trees – Album Review by Killian Laher

RM Hubbert has established himself as a guitarist of considerable note over three albums, two of which were pretty much solo affairs.  This time he is collaborating with various female artists, most of whom provide vocals to Hubbert’s guitar pieces.  The spoken word The Dinosaur Where We Fell In Love acts as a kind of an intro to the album, Anneliese Mackintosh reciting lyrics over rolling guitars.  After this we get a series of songs (Self Portrait In A Convex Mirror, I Can Hold You Back) with some wonderful guitar from RM Hubbert with high-pitched vocals from various singers (Anneke Kampman, Kathryn Williams etc).  The problem is, despite the presence of different singers on each track, many of the tracks are indistinct from each other.  The Dog features Kathryn Joseph singing about a dog that “runs like f**k”, with Sarah J Stanley also using foul language on Probably Will/Probably Do, which just sounds weird and just adds to a sort of feeling of things being slightly… off.  That’s not to say there’s no variation on the album, Sweet Dreams has slightly incongruous pulsating keyboards, while Chelsea Midnight features heavy drums and power chords two minutes in.

The outstanding moment of beauty on the album comes three tracks in, when there are no voices present.  In Accordia features an intricate guitar part that conveys real regret with piano from Rachel Grimes which supports the track rather than takes over.  It’s uncluttered and clear, and the finest moment on the album.  KAS also works well, Hubbert’s guitar interrupted only by Aby Vulliamy’s string arrangements. Without doubt RM Hubbert is a fine guitarist. But here his muse seems to be jumbled up to the point that it seems he’s playing support on his own album, rather than occupying centre stage.

Track List:

1. The Dinosaur Where We Fell In Love (with Anneliese Mackintosh)

2. Self Portrait In A Convex Mirror (with Anneke Kampman)

3. In Accordia (with Rachel Grimes)

4. I Can Hold You Back (with Kathryn Williams)

5. Sweet Dreams (with Marnie)

6. The Dog (with Kathryn Joseph)

7. The Unravelling (with Martha Ffion)

8. Probably Will / Probably Do (with Sarah J Stanley)

9. KAS (with Aby Vulliamy)

10. Yew Tree (with Karine Polwart)

11. Chelsea Midnight (with Eleanor Friedberger, Barry Burns & Jim Eno)

Sweet Dreams: