Review for Homeworking

Thanks to Rocking Magpie for reviewing Homeworking.

Read the review here

Contemporary Indie-Folk From His Bedroom to Yours

Like far too many musicians these days; Robert initially Crowdfunded this album (like its predecessor) while recording it at home, and also shoehorning in a number of other Arts based jobs to get by.
Some years ago, constant touring would have been his ‘day job’; but now with a lot more musicians trying to fit into only a few small venues this is how it works now; oh … and he’s having to do his own publicity at the same time.

As another sign of the times; the album, bar a couple of tracks when Matthew Pinfield adds guitar to two songs; is Robert playing every other instrument, singing and recording/producing it all himself.
It’ll come to me later; but there’s something about the stark and melancholic opening song; Somewhere In the Dark that reminds me of a *singer-songwriter from my youth.

The chorus on this tale of unrequited love/break up song is repeated ad infinitum against a claustrophobic backing of guitar, bass and synthesiser (?) to create a song that certainly captured my attention.
This is followed by the slightly more uptempo Pass The Day; but the underlying story is still one where ‘love’ isn’t all hearts and flowers anymore.

Like so many albums I’ve received this year Homeworking was written and recorded during the pandemic and assorted lockdowns; which probably accounts for the weariness and depth of the songs on offer here; none more so than the heartbreaking Kidding Myself, A Lover Or A Friend and Sick of Me; which is actually Lane baring his inner feelings about himself, to the world.

Four albums into his career; and nothing but time on his hands during the lockdowns; Lanes’s songs flit between introspective soul baring through observations of the world around him with ease and good grace, with a couple like the Bluesy Your Baby’s Changed Her Mind and So Many Songs straddling both perspectives with ease.

I presume he wanted to give his fans ‘value for money’ which would explain the inclusion of the instrumental Clean Echoes and final track, Christmas 2020 (This Year is Absurd) which while basically true, hasn’t aged that well and possibly should have been left as a surprise inclusion in concert.
There are two quite special songs on this album which I’m struggling to select one of as my Favourite Song.

The titular Homeworking features some rather beautiful and intricate guitar playing behind Robert as he captures the feelings of both hope and despair many of us felt at that confusing time; perfectly ….. and if I’m to critique and compare the other songs; he proves ‘less is more here’ with no distracting computerised synth playing that masks his clever songwriting.

After I’ve said all that about the minimalist approach; the other song I like a lot, is the almost hymnal Listen In; which has the brooding addition of that fulsome electric keyboards etc. that builds to an crescendo like ending that left me almost breathless.

I appreciate that circumstances dictated the DIY format here; but it allows Lane to take these songs into two very different directions in the future; most likely stripping them back for solo performances but if he can pull together a real life band; perhaps for Festivals there’s the chance they will become very special indeed.

*The singer-songwriter(s) I’m thinking of are Clifford T Ward and …. trust me…. Leo Sayer!

Robert Lane
New video, Somewhere in the Dark

If you’ve ever been on stage with me you might spot yourself in the video. Also a fair few people sitting in audiences make an appearance.

Thanks for the photos and videos Andrew Davies, Ian Lane, Richard Shakespeare, Daniel Leeves, Connie Lane, Alan Mellor, Daniel Leeves, Echo Wants Her Voice Back, Tony Birch, Mark Banks, Tom Warland, Arun Kapur, Stephen Curry, Visual Radio Arts, Juliet Hounam

Robert Lane
First Improv Wolves show

Thanks to everybody who came along to the first Improv Wolves gig last week, and to The Light House for being such fantastic hosts.

Photo by Arun Kapur

Robert Lane
Improv Wolves

A new night, a new group! This Friday the 29th of July Improv Wolves will make their debut at Light House Media Centre in Wolverhampton, which is a really wonderful venue.

This first show features Matt Dibbens, Robert Lane (that’s me), Laurence Saunders and Lee Goodall. We’ll be making up brand new comedy sketches from audience suggestions.

As far as I can tell this is quite a new thing in Wolverhampton. If it goes well we plan to do more shows and introduce more of the fantastic performers we know.

Here’s the ticket link for the show on Friday

Robert Lane
Interview about Sir Paul McCartney

Sam Liddicott is doing a great series of articles about Paul McCartney ahead of Macca’s 80th birthday and asked me to share some of my thoughts about Paul and his influence On me…

As a songwriter yourself, how important has Paul McCartney been? What is it about his talent and innovation that resonates with you?

This is a hard question to answer, because it would be like trying to explain how important cellular respiration has been in my life. I’ll try and give a less obvious example I was thinking about recently. After The Beatles split, the first several albums Paul put out were not massively successful, with one even being restructured after rejection by the record label. What must that have felt like to an artist who, up until then, had been met with complete success in his recording career? His response: keep making music. Keep writing songs. Very inspiring.

Read the full thing on Sam’s blog https://www.musicmusingsandsuch.com/musicmusingsandsuch/2022/5/16/feature-paul-mccartney-at-eighty-paul-mccartney-and-me-the-interviews-robert-lane

Robert Lane
Pass the Day radio play

Just wanted to do a big shout out to some of the radio presenters who have played Pass the Day so far. Much appreciated!

Jane Clayton on West Norfolk Radio

Gary Hazlehurst What the Folk is That? On Stafford FM
shorturl.at/isSX5

Wayne Moseley Beautiful Freak Show Big City Radio
shorturl.at/ryLW1

Dr.Bones and Mike 1 in Five New Music Saturday
https://www.newmusicsaturday.com

Gowan Clews Gowan's Variety Show Hayes FM

Jason Forest The Milk Bar Podcast episode 663
Interview and preview of the song’s video
https://fb.watch/cbQUNRGadV/

Richard Fryer Eclectic Selection show on Future radio
shorturl.at/fxAQV

Adrian Goldberg Adventures in Music Brum Radio
https://bit.ly/3x17EBr

Pete Steel Brum Radio A List
https://bit.ly/3r1ZVPy

Neil March Trust the Doc
shorturl.at/arN18

Neil Vessey The Folk Pilot Deal Radio
shorturl.at/dfpDN

Neil King Along the Tracks Blues and Roots Radio 

Robert Lane