Classic album: Mr Hudson & The Library – A Tale Of Two Cities
A Tale Of Two Cities
Ahead of the forthcoming hype that there will be regarding Mr Ben Hudson’s second album, Straight No Chaser, executively produced by a certain Kanye West, I thought that I would take some time to recall the first Mr Hudson album.
Then working with his band The Library, A Tale Of Two Cities was informed by Mr Hudson’s experiences living in both London and Birmingham and opens with a familiar sound from any city, the sound of a starting engine and car horns. What follows next would be a surprise for those who knew of Mr Hudson’s work in the UK Urban music scene, where he worked with the likes of Dizzee Rascal and Sway. The sparse drums and soulful vocal, eulogising about “…the street where she lives…” are joined by a plinking piano to form a gorgeous, life-affirming end product.
‘Brave The Cold’’s tale of going out in the cold city night having had “…triple brandies glaze the cold from my soul…” and the self pitying paeon ‘Everything Happens To Me’ is frankly beautiful. My personal favourite is ‘Two By Two’. Again arrestingly simple of construction, the chorus of “…the music’s loud/the party’s hot/people are the kind I’d like/to sit and talk to a while…’ resonates, reminding me of good times.
The instrumentation does not really change from the standard piano, drums guitar and bass, nor do the arrangements ever get overly complex, but the album does not ever sound repetitive. This, I think, can be credited to the everyday scenes and emotions so strikingly portrayed in such an unassuming way.
‘Picture Of You’ uses sentimentality to perfect effect, minor chords play as Hudson misses the person that makes it all worthwhile – “…should time bring me fame/or a touch of bling/imagine that/getting paid to sing/keep your cars/cigars and frosted rings/without you here/they just wont mean a thing”.
It all ends with the piano and hand claps led ‘Upon The Heath’, where stock is taken “…there’s nothing in our way/and no one’s dying here/there’s nothing in our way/we’ve nothing left to fear…”. In fact, all that is left to do is press play again.
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