UK composer and musician Adam NORSWORTHY have been a presence in the UK music scene since the start of the 2000’s, perhaps most well known as a key member in blues rock band The Mustangs. He have also fronted the side project Adam & the King Bee, and in between his main band and side venture he have also kept a solo career ongoing. “Rainbird” is his sixth solo album to date, and was released in 2016.
While I do see Norsworthy describing himself as a singer/songwriter, and many of his compositions comes across as developed from that foundation, there is a bit more to Norsworthy as of 2016 than a man with his trusty acoustic guitar and compelling voice. The greater majority of the compositions comes across as much more of a mainstream pop/rock affair, the perhaps more sparse initial compositions fleshed out with a more expansive arrangement and approach.
60’s pop/rock of a more generic character are recurring features, as are cuts with something more of an Americana-tinged sound. The occasional folk-music flavored creations do have their place here as well, and there’s even a slight Floydian tinge to one of the songs here. The piano ballad makes an appearance too, on this occasion at the very end of the album, while earlier on some psychedelic touches makes subtle appearances here and there.
The most striking tunes here are the ones with an arguably closer tie to the previously mentioned singer/songwriter genre however. Not due to these tracks being original nor exceptional as such, but due to the solid craftsmanship laid down on them as well as acoustic guitars and vocals combining to create a style, sound and atmosphere rather similar to what can be found on David Bowie’s initial solo album back in 1967. A cut like The Stradivarius a fairy good example of that. Play it as the companion track to Bowie’s Come and Buy My Toys and you should easily her some key similarities here and there.
Norsworthy have chosen to explore styles and types of music it’s difficult to excel in, as they by and large have been widely explored by other artists for s good few decades. He does have a good ear for compelling melody lines though, and he’s a talented instrumentalist as well as a good singer. Pleasant music at worst and compelling at best, this is a production that merits a check by those with an interest in radio-friendly pop/rock explored with some diversity, and more often than not on what appears to be a typical singer/songwriter foundation.
My rating: 69/100
