The House Of Love - A State Of Grace

Als treuer Fan der ersten Stunde, der sich auch „A State Of Grace“ als limitierte 2x10’’ Platte vorbestellt hat, ohne einen Ton vorab gehört zu haben, darf und muss ich es so sagen: Das siebte Studioalbum von The House Of Love ist alte Männer Mundharmonika-Rock. 

Neun Jahre musste man auf einen Nachfolger von „She Paints Words In Red“ warten und dann verbleibt man recht fassungslos, was einem ab dem Opener „Sweet Loser“ kredenzt wird. „Light Of The Morning“ und „Melody Rose“ lassen es nicht besser werden und bewegen sich in Richtung Country und Blues. Vielleicht hätte Guy Chadwick, der „A State Of Grace“ mit komplett neuer Band (Keith Osborne (Gitarre), Hugo Degenhardt (Schlagzeug) und Harry Osborne (Bass)) aufgenommen hat, dem Projekt konsequenterweise einen neuen Namen geben sollen. The Honky-Tonk Bar Of Love. Oder The Saloon Of Love. 

Als nächstes folgt die Single „Clouds“, die weniger wie The House Of Love und eher nach Primal Scream klingt, als diese versuchten The Rolling Stones zu sein. Schnell wird klar, dass man auf allen ihren vorherigen Alben Instrumente wie  Pedal- und Lap-Steel-Gitarre, Banjo und Geige gar nicht vermisst hatte. 

Besonders schmerzhaft wird es, wenn „Into The Laughter“ erklingt und man den Eindruck hat, als sei dieser Song direkt aus dem Jahr 1988 zu einem herüber geweht. Wären doch die übrigen 11 Songs so wie dieser!

Überraschender Weise finden sich durch positive bis euphorische Plattenkritiken zu „A State Of Grace“:

Three songs in and it’s clear that as a songwriter, Chadwick is writing from muscle-memory. Each of these songs every bit as good as anything he has previously lent his hand to. Following in a similar vein to ‘Melody Rose’, served up next is ‘Clouds’ and proceeds to knock any cobwebs that may have accumulated during lockdown. (…)

This might not be the best sign off, but this bittersweet number is another case where the listener sits in the gallery, observing every nuance of those involved. Maybe I was wrong, perhaps this was the perfect sign-off after all. I’m leaving the album with a memory I won’t forget, as I realise we’ve come full-circle and in the same shadow that ‘Sweet Loser’ cast. Life isn’t all roses, they’re more likely to thrive in the garden and sometimes not at all. Melodies however, can take root anywhere and those on this album have certainly done that with me. Thank you Guy, great album.

(God Is In The TV)

 

Opening track Sweet Loser is a slow burning classic that harks right back to the early days. Full of texture with some great harmonica from Jem Turpin. A mellow start full of chord changes and time swings. Light Of The Morning is stuffed full of sound. A country blues number that goes into Spiritualized territory which is no bad move in my book. A great chorus with some lovely backing vocals from Josie Hope. Melody Rose is one of the highlights here. A lovely riff that harks back to the nineties grunge licks that lift up the whole structure. Dark yet beautiful stuff. A lovely bit of great stop start two minutes in and a mighty headrush of a song. (…)

Queen Of Song is another blues country rambler that resonates. The more I listen to this track I reckon if Guy got together with Jason Pierce they could make a great masterpiece of an album, or have a major control bust up. The similarities are all there, great songwriting, the vision, it’s all there bottled up ready to pounce. In My Mind is another classic HOL tune tinged with this country sound that Chadwick has injected into his soundscapes. (…)

A great return from Guy Chadwick who has been revitalised by a bunch of young players who seriously know their stuff.

(Louder Than War)