ALBUM OF THE WEEK

JACKIE LEVEN - FAIRY TALES FOR HARD MEN

Born in 1950 into a Romany (Roma) family, Jackie Leven spent his childhood and teenage years clearly marked out as an outsider in the clannish, insular world that was Fife, Scotland at that time. Although Scottish himself, neither of his parents were from the area - his father was an Irish Cockney, his mother was from a large Northumberland (Geordie) family, and adapting to existing cultural norms was a hard, if not formidable task for such incomers. This seems to have formed the start of an independence of mind in the young Leven, hopelessly wayward at school (although outstanding at English and essay writing), with few friends, and those mostly considered 'oddball'. His attendance at school was woeful, but those truanting times spent alone in glens and hills and by rivers still form the basis of his songs' imagery to this day.

Biography at http://www.jackieleven.co.uk/biography.php

Dropped kicking and screaming into the box; Fairy Tales is the fourth album of Jackie's 1990's return to music after an unprovoked and near fatal attack which damaged his larynx and left him barely able to speak, let alone sing for two years.

Here's some of what Jackie says about this album in his sleevenotes:

"And so now, with Fairy Tales for Hardmen I hand over some of my stories about the lives of men and women. Hardmen, because so many boys come under ill-considered or even demonic pressure to be hard or to be men. Indeed, so many men are just boys trapped in men's lives, pretending to be men — exhibiting cruelty, cowardice, fear, shame (toxic and natural), despair — controlling, manipulating, raging — but also showing tenderness, blessing, joy of living, erotic savvy, and humour that doesn't rely on victims to be funny."

This is an album which I love for its bleakly affirmative intensity coupled with its soul and ambitious sonics, for me it's one of those records that needs to run its course, once it's on I need to let it play right through.  Jackie has continued to weave other voices, spoken word sections, sound effects and quotes from classic American soul music into his records.  This is perhaps his most Celtic sounding album with Steafan Hannigan's raucous Uillean Pipes featuring on several tracks.  More recent albums have developed something of a celtic americana soundscape.

For a bit more insight into the period of Jackie's life that led to this album here's an interview that appeared in The Independent in 1996.

Spill points for anyone who can name the painter of the picture used for the album's cover  ... claimed by saneshane who got in there with Peter Howson, the picture is from the period where he became heavily involved with the Scottish bodybuilding scene ... lots of 5' 6" tall blokes trying to inflate themselves to 5' 6" wide as well.  

And free pies for a year to the person who can name the three poets whose texts are sung and spoken as part of the proceedings.