Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
There are many places within the U.K. that still hold some enchantment, some elemental force of light and breathtaking charm over the minds of those who visit the glorious reminders of our once great natural heritage, the space that lay green and full of tales of wonder and spirit dwelling before the advent of the dark satanic mills; places such as the Lakeland area of the islands in which Pete Lashley makes his Magic Corner his home and his place of inspiration.
The hard-working musician has already offered so much of himself to the world that it seems quite unfair to demand yet more of him, to ask for yet another sliver of delightful songs in which to feel the thrill of timeless energy holding back the interloper of supposed progress which aims to spoil much of the landscape as possible.
It is in that affinity with his natural surroundings that makes Magic Corner feel like a blessing wrapped in the freshly mown grass and silk memories into which water passes seductively by, the small breeze capturing the songs as if stranded by the reeds on the river bed, not waiting to be rescued before heading down river, but more wanting to be known for their beauty, to stay perfectly in place and sway with the melody at hand.
The Lakes, like the moors of Cornwall or the valleys and peaks that define Scotland, Ireland and Wales, holds a certain mystic unadulterated refinement that is not easily captured by the ordinary or the self obsessed, instead it offers a kind of sanctuary that must be held close and admired, praised and reflected upon, even if the songs have no bearing on it, they certainly infect the mindset of the performer and the listener.
In tracks such as Sleepwalking Emma, ’76, It Was Hot, the excellent and Wordsworth inspired I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud and Sting In The Tale, Pete Lashley finds time to exemplify the feeling of being one with the surroundings, not for him the cold steel and dusty brick blocking his view, but instead a life in the open, of offering insight and knowledge of the view he sees, whether it’s of nature, the natural or the spiritual grace. Magic Corner is a gracious piece of work that simply sighs with longing at the magic that is offered; a generous set of songs that keep the listener warm and full of affection.
Pete Lashley’s Magic Corner is released on April 15th
Ian D. Hall