I missed out on last year’s debut, ‘End of the American Dream’, but Chris Marksberry is back with his second album already, and I am very glad indeed I have come across it as this is vital, honest and real. Chris has obviously been influenced by Americana and country, but he has moved that into London and embedded the grittiness of that city into eleven originals which somehow take us back to the late Seventies when pub rock had exploded into punk rock and the indie mentality had all musicians feeling anything was possible.
It is a very British sounding album, and although he never sounds like Ian Dury, I found myself constantly being reminded of him, just due to the way he comes across. I was not surprised to see Pat Collier (The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Wonder Stuff) and Jess Corcoran (Shed 7) involved in the production and having heard this it totally makes sense because of the arrangements and approach. One never knows quite where this album is going as while the Americana is never too far away, it also references rock ‘n’ roll, folk rock and blues, and Chris is totally at home, providing vocals which feel like they are sharing a lived experience from someone who has been through it all and come out the other side, a true survivor. There are times when he comes across as a slightly more countrified version of Lee Brilleaux, and I could imagine him playing with Dr. Feelgood in their heyday. Raw and real, this is British through and through, powerful and strong.
Rating: 9/10
Links:
https://chrismarksberry.com/
https://www.talkingelephant.co.uk/