He remains a tireless live performer and a huge draw, especially across Europe, but for aeons Luka Bloom has somehow seemed under-appreciated around these parts. Perhaps it’s down to over-familiarity or the fact that his no-nonsense get-on-with-it work ethic in some senses plays down his importance. Either way, it is time for a reappraisal.
Bloom is nothing if not consistent. This is his 12th solo album in a career that stretches back over 30 years and he hasn’t made as duff record yet. The good news is that 11 Songs moves things forward very effectively. Recorded in Grouse Lodge with Frames and Josh Ritter man Dave Odlum at the controls, it is warm and sepia-toned, with deep, acoustic bass from Trevor Hutchinson, piano courtesy of Liam O’Maonlai and Bloom’s trademark acoustic guitar strum. The predominant theme is a spiritual one, encompassing love and loss: the crunch track is the wonderfully optimistic ‘Don’t Be Afraid of The Light That Shines Within You’. Reminiscent of Astral Weeks-era, Van Morrison meets U2’s ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’, it boasts soaring strings and the massed voices of Gardiner Street Gospel Choir – a superb synthesis. ‘There Is A Time’, a languid rumination on loneliness, is another highlight, while he also takes time out to give a lash to the Facebook/MySpace generation on ‘Free’, on which he bemoans the fact that the everyone is “coming down with gadgetry” and spending their time “on-line, where nothing’s real.”
A more exotic, world-music style rhythmic backdrop frames the positive vibes of ‘I Love The World I’m In’, a song which was inspired by one of his many journeys to Australia; while the least adorned and most overtly spiritual song, ‘Sunday’ sums up the Bloom philosophy. All told 11 Songs is an album that reveals a superb craftsman working at the top of his game. Savour it.