Album review: OLIVER WAKEMAN – Anam Cara

Elflock Records/Spirit of Unicorn Music/Cherry Red [Release date 10.05.24]

Oliver Wakeman is best known as part of a veritable keyboard dynasty but out of the fatherly shadow he has been steadily making solid albums on his own terms. The latest has apparently been brewing since the time he joined Yes in 2008.

‘Anam Cara’ (Soul Friend) is a story-driven album and mines the deep furrow of Celtic tinged progressive rock (as practised by Karnataka, Chasing The Monsoon, Iona and even Blackmore’s Night).

Taking lead vocals is one time vocalist with Karnataka, and also now with her own band, Hayley Griffiths. As in other projects Hayley brings her West End sheen (ex-Riverdance) to proceedings. For some her pure tones may be a tad overwhelming (as in a theatrical style delivery – listen to ‘Instead Of My Fear’) and in a sense the album becomes an exceptional vehicle for her skills.

Only a handful of pieces really hit the spot and all have a distinct air of familiarity. ‘Here In My Heart’ is followed by ’1000 Autumns’ although the chord sequence that underpins the latter sounds very familiar. ‘In The Moonlight’ and ‘Miss You Now’ (with echoes of ‘Hotel California’) are also engaging if derivative.

Musically, Wakeman adds nice embellishments but not particularly showy and seems happy to defer to his fellow musos. These include that Celtic Rock mainstay Troy Donockley whilst David Mark Pearce instils some angular guitar to ‘Marble Arch’. Again the chorus melody does sound familiar.

A pleasant if somewhat predictable album. And with those vocals perhaps an acquired taste for some. ***

Review by David Randall

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