"All Through Space" by Robert James Grey
Review
When I see glasses as half empty, I often wonder why obvious talent doesn't get its deserved recognition: that thought too often occupies my thoughts.
In lighter moments though, especially when I'm more patient, I do see gifted artists pick up popular & critical acclaim, just possibly not as quickly as I want them to.
One recent example is how Robert James Grey's debut single "This Town" has managed to gain both: and that includes factoring in that this is in effect a career launch which doesn't draw directly on the banked goodwill of his releases and performances under other names.
Building on this great start, his follow-up, "All Through Space" comes out tomorrow.
While its predecessor was warm & welcoming in an intimate manner (what the Germans might categorise as ‘Heimeligkeit'), this latest one roams further afield (not that you really needed me to tell you that) yet critically starts in the domestic place we left him at the end of the last song.
This sense of continuity and moving the emotional story forward (it opens out too in shifting the emphasis from the first to second person) is fascinating: I've not really come across this outside the more formal concept albums.
It's obviously one of those "big picture" numbers too loving another "all through space, all through time" rather than within the confines of a single home.
What the song really drives home about his talents though are:
Firstly this is one talented pianist & singer: what he can do with little more than these two elements is astounding
Secondly few other artists project such intense emotions with such simplicity: and this so amplifies the fundamental truthfulness of all of his work.
I'd like to think that we are seeing Robert on the first couple of sections of a swiftly rising career trajectory. One might rue the long period of quiet, but if he spent it writing & honing material of this quality, then it was time very well spent.
You can catch Robert playing (hopefully this song) on May 23rd at The Tin where is part of the lineup (alongside Monday Nights, What About Eric? and Creaking Twitch) for our next fundraiser for the venue. Tickets via: https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/hot-music-live-presents-monday-the-tin-at-the-coal-tickets/14371513
If you are sensitive to finely & highly wrought emotional music, then you'll need an extra hankie on this occasion. Robert doesn't bring moisture to the eyes with sad songs (many can do that), he does it with ones full of love & hope like "All Through Space".
