mon 09/12/2024

CD: The Soft Cavalry - The Soft Cavalry | reviews, news & interviews

CD: The Soft Cavalry - The Soft Cavalry

CD: The Soft Cavalry - The Soft Cavalry

Husband-wife project gently surmounts daunting challenges

Releasing this record must be a daunting process for Steve Clarke. For one, it's his first record as a frontman and main songwriter, after a lifetime as a jobbing bassist and tour manager. For two it's a collaboration with his wife – they've been married a year, and together for five – and isn't shy of expressing the hopes and fears of an evolving relationship.

But perhaps most potentially intimidating for Clarke, his wife is Rachel Goswell of Slowdive, one of the most distinctive sounding UK bands of recent decades, so it's inevitable her presence will generate attention and draw comparisons.

It's really hard not to make those comparisons, too: the presence of Goswell's vocal purity and distinctive way with a harmony, and the floating, high gloss, reverb-heavy production (from Clarke's brother Michael) naturally invite them, in fact. And on those terms, the record suffers: partly because of a traditionalism to Clarke's songwriting, it never becomes fully airborne in the same way Slowdive do at their best (whose 2017 comeback album showed they're still on stunning form).

But give it time. By the time you're two-thirds the way through the album, your ears readjust, you acclimatise to the distinctive qualities of Clarke's understated voice, and the songs themselves come to the fore. In fact his style is really more like the gruff northern romanticism of Doves or Elbow, but with less of their epic sweep and more obvious fragility. And on those terms, the album is actually very strong – there are gentle hooks everywhere, and there's no sign of filler right to the end of the 12 tracks. Listen through again, and Goswell's presence is woven in, really well. There's a kindly, nourishing quality to this album that really warms the heart, and for all its subtlety and fragility, give it close attention and it will stick with you.

@joemuggs

There are gentle hooks everywhere, and there's no sign of filler right to the end of the 12 tracks

rating

Editor Rating: 
3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Share this article

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters