Rosemary Works Project is the eponymous debut of singer-songwriter Alex Lewis and a host of multi-instrumental and vocally deft collaborators from other bands including Nicolai Prowse, Rhodri Marsden, and Nick Frater. It features instruments from the traditional guitars, drums and keys to bowed saw, mini pianos and a lot more… but I’ll use up my word count listing them all. Side note: although unrelated to Rosemary Works, the school in Islington, this album does feature many instruments you might expect to hear in a school ensemble.
Opener ‘The Blues are Alright’ is wistful, confessional storytelling with the kind of vocal delivery that sounds like a British Paul Simon and sets the mood well for the rest of the record.
The child-like ‘Yammma Yamma’ sounds a bit like post-Beatles George Harrison doing a jig with Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. Imagine that if you will. Go on, it’s an enduring image.
‘Hook Me Up’ is one of the most catchy tracks; handclaps, an infectious chorus and sweet harmonies explode everywhere and it feels like very Rufus Wainwright-esque territory, which is no bad thing in my book.
‘Roll Me Over’ is the stand out track for me: starting out as a simple melancholy ode and building into a bitter sweet crescendo when the backing vocals come in at the end – with bonus laughter.
The record is an homage to simple, classic songwriting and owes a lot to orchestral 70s pop, particularly ‘Out Of Your League’ which has more than a little ELO about it. While there are lots of interesting arrangements and vocal harmonies at play, it’s not just a “musicians” record.
‘Carousels’ is a twinkly, dreamy waltz and another favourite, here at KV’s London division.
Rumours abound that Mr Lewis is hitting the road for a while, let’s hope that fuels the next chapter in the RWP story. This is the feelgood soundtrack to your winter.
The album is available as a free download, courtesy of the Great Sheiks label.