A double album—or, if you’re listening on Spotify, as “MV” is an hour and 25 minutes straight through—”Between Time” flies in the face of the idiotic notion that the LP is dead.
And, in all honesty, there’s only one place to start. “Cruel Hand Of Fate” is a beauty, but it’s a beauty with a guest appearance from Joe Bonamassa. It’s tucked away toward the end of disc two, as if it knows it’s the ace and doesn’t need your validation.
It doesn’t. Because, like the rest of “….Time,” it’s brimming with ideas and a mark of quality.
Steve Louw is not a new artist. Fronting Big Sky for decades (and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in South Africa back in 2003), “….Time” marks his third solo album in four years after a hiatus.
You could argue that this is among his most ambitious works. “Alibi” has touches of Bob Dylan in its expansive Americana, and that continues with “We Had It All.” The structure of the thing has a bit of “Like A Rolling Stone.”
“Beggar Tonight” is proof, though, that this is first and foremost exceptionally well done, as you’d imagine any record produced by Kevin Shirley would be. The pair have a partnership that goes back years and endures.
And, of course, the fact that it’s a double album allows for so much, and the likes of “Giants Walk The Land” (written with Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie) and the darker, almost eerie “Killers” allow Louw to stretch himself superbly.
The magnificent music must not detract from the superb lyrics, though. “StreetJane’s Dream #3” builds so well around its poetry, even without the wonderful solo.
“Do Me Good” has a go at the classic 12-bar blues strut. And it does it well, and “Flowers From The Graves Of Doves” is a love song as unconventional as its title.
“Don’t Leave My Heart Alone” has a similar vibe to what the great Dan Baird used to find.
And the guitar playing at times here is sensational. The lead on “Time To Get On” is a prime example of that.
In this kaleidoscope, anything goes. “Get Real Gone” finds time for some low-slung Stones flavours, while the ’60s harmonies of “The Way Your Heart Is” and “Take Me For A Ride” take things to another place.
There’s such a seemingly effortless (although you can bet it wasn’t) class to this. “Free To Fly” could be a Tom Petty record, but it segues marvellously into the funky, almost Paul Simon-esque, “You ‘N’ Tonight,” which benefits further from having Bonamassa’s backing singers.
“Cold Cold Rails” floats beautifully, and there’s some arena rock to be had on “Ever Be Undone.” The swagger recalls Simple Minds, but the last one is the ultimate closing statement.
“Highway To The Sun” amounts to an almost prog chance for everyone to stretch themselves one last time. And they do.
Really, if this were a Springsteen record, it’d be winning Grammys right, left, and centre. It might for Steve Louw too. Time will tell. “Between Time” sounds like a million dollars; it’s got the songs to match.
Purely and simply, it’s utterly glorious and one of the best records of its type you’ll hear.
Rating 9/10
REVIEW: STEVE LOUW – BETWEEN TIME (2024)
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