Midlands’s songwriter’s debut
Stereophonic Kelly Jones was given a free copy by an enterprising Daniel himself. Once lead singer with nearly-but-not-quite Rachels Basement, Daniel Rachel has already taken his trusty warble and well-strummed acoustic guitar on tour with PP Arnold and Shawn Colvin. Backed by a gaggle of helpers — including Goldfrapp drummer Rowan Oliver — some manning bagpipes, mandolin and a tea chest, Rachel messes up his Bob Dylan/Mike Scott worksheet with some of his own flourishes. Letter To A Soldier and Child Of The Universe almost overplay the knitted-brow, tortured songwriter card, but it’s the rowdier Mamma Cha Cha (Doo Doo Wah) and Free My Mind — the last full of Roger McGuinn-style guitar scrawl-that raises his game. ***
MARK
BLAKE
Q MAGAZINE
