Kent first made his name with Danish hardcore band L.U.L.L. some 40 years ago, before both forming Leroys and One Bar Town, which is when I think I first came across him. Since going solo in 2016 Kent has chosen a quite different path, often found with his trusty ukelele (not normally thought of as the most punk of instruments), and yet again this album finds him going down the roots path. It features ten songs co-written with Stefan Kletetzka, Helge Reich (R.I.P.), Torsten‚ Totti‘Scharfenberg, Nik 21 and Jens C. Möller, most of whom can be heard performing on the album along with Ginger Wade and Luise Schitteck. The album also includes five covers of songs by Justin Townes Earle, Shelby Lynne, Kirsty MacColl, The Mekons, and Allison Moorer.
This is music which has that independent feel, as if it is being performed in a small pub, but that is often when music comes most alive and feels like a physical entity in its own right. There are times when it feels a bit dirty, a little grimey and road worn, yet there is an honesty which shines through this. It is not music which has been created in a studio by a “singer” and someone behind a computer but is real and vital. Kent sings about what is important to him, and what should be important to everyone, even if he does think of himself as one of the “Sad Old Twats”. Some songs have ukelele front and centre and are almost solo performances while others are a roots band in full flight and one is never sure what is going to happen from one song to the next, except it is always going to be interesting. It is music which deserves to be enjoyed in the live environment with beer in hand with everyone joining in when the choruses allow – the duet on “Psychobubbles” is a delight, but it is the singalong chorus which makes it work so very well indeed.
The world needs more musicians like Kent Neilsen, a proper troubadour who can trace back to the likes of Dylan and Guthrie, for whom following his muse is way more important than being commercial and acceptable. It is folk, it is punk, it is roots, it is real, it is Kent Neilsen.
Rating: 7/10
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/kentnielsenofficial/
https://vikingwreckchords.de/