"Lucky Luke" by Lemon Boy

The release of "Lucky Luke" by Lemon Boy marks a moment when after my mentioning so many times that the artist behind the name is called Luke Bates, he actually references his given appellation in a song title.

As noted when I last reported on his work ("She Makes Me Want To Stay" & "My Darling" last December), he had moved his signature sound onwards from wistful mood pieces into what he described as "happier sounding" ones.

"Lucky Luke" certainly sounds like he's continuing to head in that particular direction (possibly on horseback) but in so many ways this is unlike anything he's put out before.

The humour stands out from the very beginning: for all his many other gifts of nuance, touch & taste, this quality hasn't ever been one that I'd picked out before.

Nor have I had the chance to draw any samples to your attention as I do now or to describe his playing as anything belonging in the territory of rockabilly.

While the title is almost certainly a nod to his own name (and hopefully his current state of self-esteem), at the surface level, driven by that introductory sample, the song's protagonist is a cowboy. Yes, a cowboy is the hero of a Lemon Boy track. Never thought I'd be writing that down. Based on a 1992  TV series which derives from a 1991 film  based on a 1980's animated TV show which in turn derives from a 1940s Belgian comic strip (quite a history), both Roger Miller & Arlo Guthrie have been involved in music relating to the franchise.

Luke's song is absolutely delightful. He really just takes the name & the western setting & doesn't seek to tie a narrative to what I've just outlined, nor does he take those previous musical contributions as any sort of template for his own song.

He describes it as "simpler" than his earlier work and given the delicate complexity of the arrangements & subtle playing on those, he's accurate, though it's great to hear the exuberance & authenticity of his Western guitar work here. To a player of his talents, it may have been a simpler exercise for him, but the depth of integrity is just as profound.

Long term Lemon Boy followers may be shaken by this latest turn of events (it really could be a completely different artist) but frankly complacency is nothing to be commended in a creative individual & I've always found the thrill of being surprised by someone to be part of my enjoyment of checking out new music: whether by someone whose work I'd never previously encountered or by one whom I'd fallen into the error of thinking I knew all about.

And I do love "Lucky Luke". It grabbed me instantly & won't let go. I'm very partial to this sort of thing anyway but if I'm being honest, it is more accessible to a broader audience than his previous work & ought therefore build up his fanbase. If you get the chance, please give it a spin (I've added it to the current "Hot Music Live Presents" Spotify playlist). However deeply you've been into Lemon Boy & his music before, I think that you'll enjoy "Lucky Luke" purely on its own merits & beyond that you get the privilege of witnessing an artist confounding expectations. Which is exciting.