aaamusic | On 24, Apr 2012

Stillman releases his new album in the form of a 4-track Ep, a work dense of meanings and references to these times of corruption and massive power by the media.
It’s political record, wisely flavoured with a 60s sound, the sound of rebellion, the sound of the people who wanted to change the world. But today everything is harder, and it’s a noble attempt by this guy (Chaz Craik) from London, he deals with cronyism and politicians privileges, passing through the story of a man nursing her fading wife and fighting against medical bills (“Soon enough”).
They are daily stories no longer told and they have touched me for the witty lyrics and the truth they hide inside.
“Soon enough” is a little painting brushed with thin vocals and a music crescendo that reflects the desperation of the main character of the story. The tune runs quietly, as it would like to respect the woman in the bed, so there’s an acoustic guitar and drums beaten with brushes but in the end you can see a rush of anger in the guitar sustained by the organ.
“Eton mess” gives a guitar riff and a hypnotic bassline, it’s pure Cream or Yes style, with the organ on the background making the sound vintage and cool at the same time. The vocals make room to the guitar and to instrumental parenthesis that seem not much loved in these times of verse-refrain-verse songs, and for this reason, highly appreciated.
“The rats tale”, the last one, is a seven-minute track that makes me miss Ian Anderson’s flute and the progressive, it’s a mix of Jethro Tull and Starway to Heaven, simply sublime. I must praise the guitarist for the way he has created his sound, clear but solid, gentle, but powerful. And how I can forget the moog drawing in the air whirlwind of magic.
I have left “Grit & Blood”, last but not least, an anthem disguised in apparently quiet song, rising up only in the refrain and in its second half, but as you know, sometimes words are stronger than anything else.
Stillman music and songwriting are very mature, he can take the legacies from the 60s and 70s and melt them in something fresh and modern, making a tribute but not copying that sound, creating his own music style with originality and personality.

★★★★★

Roberta Capuano