Sinematic/ Robbie Robertson - Americana

By Narendra Kusnur

Album: Sinematic
Artiste: Robbie Robertson
Genre; Americana
Label: Universal Music
Rating: *** 1/2

We all know Canadian musician Robbie Robertson as guitarist and vocalist of The Band, which backed Bob Dylan and on its own, played a huge role in developing the Americana genre. On his later solo albums, he has tended to experiment with new sounds, but kept the basic principle of solid songwriting and effective lyrics as his priorities.

At 76, Robertson has released his latest solo album, the oddly-spelt Sinematic, eight years after its predecessor How To Become Clairvoyant. Meanwhile, he has kept himself busy with various film projects, including Martin Scorsese’s forthcoming The Irishman.

Sinematic has plenty of good compositions, talking of subjects like crime, politics, the environment and love, besides a few dedications to Robertson's heroes. His guitaring is in supreme nick, using wah-wah effects in short bursts. However, one can't help commenting on the shakiness and inconsistency of his voice. Often singing in a semi-spoken style, his rasp seems to have lost its earlier charm. The opening track ‘I Hear You Paint Houses’ has a star guest in Irish legend Van Morrison, but the combination seems mismatched.

To be fair, let’s give credit to Robertson’s age, and the fact that he can produce such tight and impactful music. ‘Once Were Brothers’ is a nostalgic ode to The Band, as he sings, “When the lights go out, and you can’t go on, you miss your brothers, but now they’re gone.” Frederic Yonnet’s harmonica adds to the song's charm.

‘Let Love Reign’ is a tribute to John Lennon, as Robertson sings, “Raising hope that tomorrow there may be peace of mind, as world leaders take us on a guided tour of hell.” The distinctly orchestrated ‘The Shadow’ makes references to film, radio and theatre personality Orson Welles, whereas ‘Remembrance’, featuring guitarists Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II, is a dedication to the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

One finds a tendency of sounding like others too. There's a Dylanesque flavour on ‘Street Serenade’, a song on street life with the lines, “Hear the sounds of the urban jungle, seems to play a rhapsody in blue.” On ‘Shanghai Blues’, which talks of the Chinese mafia, Robertson attempts a Leonard Cohen baritone. And there's something Rod Stewart-ish about ‘Hardwired’, where he sings, “Hardwired for God, hardwired for sex, it’s just a natural reflex.”

Listeners will get a special treat from vocalist Felicity Williams, whose rhythm n’ blues-tinged singing dominates ‘In A Beauty Way’. And for a pure Americana touch, there's ‘Dead End Kid’, where Robertson talks of his days of growing up.

The net result is a collection that impresses with some remarkable compositions and words. Though Sinematic is rather different from the work of The Band, its choice of subjects and variety give it a clear edge.