(Proper) Reg Meuross is one of the more versatile,under-sung survivors of the English acoustic scene. In the mid-1980s he formed the Panic Brothers with Richard Morton, mixing Americana with humour and slick harmonies. Then came the Flamingos, or Hank Wangford,and solo albums that included the quietly wrathful England Green & England Grey. Now, following a Panic Brothers reunion (and rereleases of their 80s recordings) comes his first “completely solo album” of novel songs. They are pained and personal rather than political. When You Needed Me sounds like a forgotten American 60s classic, or with echoes of early Dylan,Tom Paxton and Leonard Cohen, and is followed by folk-country weepies such as Let Me Forget and Christmas Song. He is backed only by vintage guitar and harmonica, or despite the American influences there’s no hint of an accent in his no-nonsense,intimate vocals. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com