WALTER TROUT - 'BROKEN'

The title track opens proceedings, a wonderful duet with powerhouse Beth Hart. Her soul shaking vocals wrap beautifully around Trout’s own, the joy of hearing these voices blend together at odds with the pain so effortlessly conveyed by their delivery. Trout’s guitar weeps in sympathy during the first of many standout solos. As seems to be a recurring theme of ‘Broken’, a song that could feel sombre rings oddly optimistic, a sense of overcoming adversity permeating every tortured lyric.  

Hart isn’t the only guest; In what initially seems an unlikely match, Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider lends his brash vocals to ‘I’ve Had Enough’ with inimitable style. And if you think listening to two ageing men rage at the state of the world doesn’t sound much fun, prepare to be proved wrong. This is exasperation at its most bulldozing and hard-rocking. Similarly uplifting is the uncharacteristic boogie of ‘Bleed’. Enlisting English harmonica player Will Wilde to augment the track is a master-stroke; a shot of adrenaline amidst tunes that generally favour the blues.  

Of course, Trout is really quite good at the blues, and there is much to love here. The atmospheric ‘Turn and Walk Away’ emerges subtle, luring the listener in with gently strummed guitar and harmonica flourishes, succeeded by lovely harmonies courtesy of Trout’s long-term producer Eric Corne. ‘Courage in the Dark’ boasts a relatable lyric about how easy it is to “get shattered by one insensitive remark” over a persistent blues progression. ‘Breathe’ feels more laid-back, restrained, with an almost gospel feel to the chorus.

There are a couple of curveballs; ‘No Magic (In the Street)’ presents Trout with unexpected swagger, yearning for a time gone by with more than a hint of irritation. ‘Heaven or Hell’ is stranger still, Trout spitting a spoken word rumination over a jabbing riff before concluding with the chanted refrain, “we get what we deserve”.  

Capable also of romanticism, ‘Love of my Life’ is a compelling instrumental (no relation to the Queen track) that pays tribute to Trout’s wife (and manager) Marie, showcasing his ability to make a guitar sing. The heartfelt ‘I Wanna Stay’ is an elegant love song that perfectly reflects the bliss of falling in love. Songwriting is clearly in the genes, Trout’s son Biscuit pitching in with final track ‘Falls Apart’ which somehow feels both desperate and inspired - which might also be a reasonable description of the album as a whole. 

'Broken' is available from the 1st March.