Alexander Tucker
Don't Look Away

THE REVIEW

The minstrel of Albion Alexander Tucker returns after a 6-year absence. He does so by releasing this “Don’t Look Away”, which concludes a trilogy that began with “Dorwytch” in 2011 and continued the following year with “Third Mouth”. In the meantime, our artist was not exactly on an artistic stand by, having participated in the quirky pop project “Grumbling Fur”. Tucker is a sui generis singer-songwriter, endowed with a distinctive and lullaby-like vocal timbre, a characteristic that can either be an added value or a reason to avoid further listening. Similarly, his music follows this wavering analysis: sometimes author of hypnotic and beautiful acoustic songs, or mantras in the vein of krautrock, while at other times, he indulges in circular chants made heavier by a subdued and monotone singing.

Which version of Tucker does this “Don’t Look Away” bring with it? A nice mix of the aforementioned tendencies, with a more developed melodic side, more refined arrangements, and a reduced dose of acidity. Exemplary in this sense are the three opening tracks: the beautiful melody that characterizes “Objects”, followed by the almost pastoral folk of “Sisters And Me”, and the electroacoustic ballad “Visiting Again”.

While “Citadel” touches on classical territories, with strings and a few hinted arpeggios, “ISHUONAWAYISHANAWA” (no, my keyboard hasn't gone crazy, that's the track's name, capitals included) leans into a very hypnotic circular arpeggio and “Gloops Void (Give It Up)” goes further, using reverse tapes and samples for almost 5 minutes of a little journey into one's Inner Space.

Welcome back, Alexander!