Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
No uprising can hope to survive unless it is meticulously planned out, any possible kinks in the plan smoothed down and the feeling that what you are hoping to achieve is not one of fundamental revolt or insidious riot, instead what the aim should be is one of considered revolution, a change of mind, heart and soul. It doesn’t have to be dealt with pain of absolute, neither should it be embraced as mutinous tragedy or by the hands of devilish authority wanting more of the same but within a different body running the show; the Amateur Revolution is always in the end one that is more sincere and thoughtful to those caught in its seismic wake.
A revolution conceived across oceans and different languages will always have the moment of astonishment placed well within its ranks, an urgency of deliberation adding control to the project at hand and if the plan succeeds, if the moment of surprise is forthcoming, then the roots and flowering originality of a new direction can be found, the revolution applauded and given to others as a personal signpost that with collaboration comes a license to thrill.
Amateur Revolution sees R.J. Chesney construct, build anew, alongside Norway’s H.P. Gundersen, breaking down apprehension and concern for the uniqueness of his sound, and instead finding the foundations of a new concept, one that sticks to slide guitar and roots movement to which R.J. Chesney tackles with sincerity and pleasure, but also adds development, a rich encouragement to open further his mind and heart in search of keeping the landscape he so visually paints with his music one in which more glorious colour is added to an ever increasing canvas.
Across songs such as Pull Down The Moon, Do You Remember Me? No Reason Left To Stay, Da Mayor Is On The Scene, Baby You’re Not Dead, Death, An Old Widows Peek and Never Give Up On Love the thought that prevails is one of willingness to explore but also recognise that all that you find in one time and country is easily, and not always for the better, much the same as you would find across country, across oceans and the soul of humanity.
It is to sensitivity, of openness to change and the hope that what inspires you can also prove to be a force, a motivation, of good and enthusiasm in others that speaks so beautifully in Amateur Revolution, a rousing appeal of Americana and Country which is impossible to ignore.
Ian D. Hall