British singer-songwriter Tom McRae releases his ninth studio album, ‘Étrange Hiver’, via Buzzard Tree Records, and it’s the perfect way to disappear into 42 minutes of hypnotic musicianship and soft vocals on ballads that you didn’t know you needed.
The eleven French and English songs are duets with some of McRae’s favourite French artists, sharing his passion for French music and to strengthen his relationship with mainland Europe, in the wake of Britain’s decision to leave the EU.
McRae encourages the listener to travel to gothic, ethereal, beautiful plains, filled with an orchestra of instruments I’m not sure I could accurately name, but I love the landscape.
Since February, music fans have been able to listen to ‘Wild Love’ which opens the album and starts off like Lou Reed wants you to pay attention and builds to a ballad. ‘Étrange Hiver’ was the latest release, a fraction more up-tempo with Alex Beaupain’s baritone joining McRae and the whole three minutes echoing a Serge Gainsbourg record.
As with any Tom McRae album I need more than a day of listening to the music to fully appreciate the skill in storytelling. After a few months, the music seeps in to life, lifting you or helping you to escape, as needed, and that’s the real beauty of Tom McRae’s work – the music lives on in each listener far longer than an album release. McRae doesn’t court commercial success, living life on his terms. We talk about authenticity a lot in regards to a musician’s voice, but you’ll go a long way to find a musician more authentic than McRae.
So far, the strongest tracks on the album, possibly because their arrangements remind me of ‘Bloodless’ or ‘A Day Like Today’ from McRae’s first two albums are ‘For My Confessor’ and ‘Habit of You’. To paraphrase a Kelly Jones lyric, I wanna get lost in the songs. The final song on the album, Inherit The Wind, features the blues vocals of Helena Noguerra and I know I’m going to head towards her music first. A keen piano – yes, still the best instrument – strengthens the ballads, but doesn’t overpower the Billie Holiday vocals that Noguerra emits. Perfect ending to a perfect 42 minutes.
Do you need to understand French to appreciate this album? Not initially, no, though you’ll likely find yourself wondering what the lyrics are and go in search of translations.
‘Étrange Hiver’ is perfect for fans of, well Tom McRae and gorgeous music. Has been compared to Nick Cave and Bob Dylan. When you’ve finished listening to this album, dive back into McRae’s back catalogue, starting with the eponymous debut in 2000, Tom McRae, which earned BRIT and Mercury Prize nominations the following year.
Tom McRae is on tour in Belgium and France in March and begins a UK tour in September 2024, starting in Cornwall’s Falmouth. I had the pleasure of seeing Tom McRae in Liverpool back in 2003 on the ‘Just Like Blood’ tour; I’m well overdue another show, aren’t I?
Track listing: 1. Wild Love (with Keren Ann) 2. Ginko (with chien noir) 3. Speeding Cars (with Clou) 4. Étrange Hiver (with Alex Beaupain) 5. Sans Lumiére (with Vanille) 6. For My Confessor (with Aitone) 7. Lover’s Souvenir (with Rose) 8. Habit of You (with Naya) 9. Half On My Mind (with Alma Forrer) 10. Lost In Translation (with Julien Brocal) 11. Inherit The Wind (with Helena Noguerra) Record label: Buzzard Tree Release date: 1st March (digital), 8th March (physical) Buy ‘Étrange Hiver’ now
