Beans On Toast SURVIVAL OF THE FRIENDLIEST. BOT Music

KNEE DEEP IN NOSTALGIA finds Beans strolling down memory lane and pausing for thought on some of the unforgettable experiences along the way. From songs harking back to the good old days of the ‘The Village Disco’, to personal thanks to a ‘Favourite Teacher’ from Beans’ Essex secondary school. Reflecting on his formative years, there’s nods to the misadventures of being ‘Young and Thirsty’ and epic reminiscence about the infamous Camden Town scene of the noughties of which Beans was a familiar part of (on the 7+ minute ‘Once upon a Time’). Bookending a life defined by music, ‘Album of the Day’ brings listeners right up to date with a perfect pop ballad about Beans sharing music with his cherished daughter. While proudly nostalgic, it’s decidedly not a concept album. Songs like ‘What Would Willie Do?’ (a classic country cut in homage to the great Willie Nelson), ‘Your Old Mate Beano’ (a colourful celebration of our Australian cousins) and ‘The Family Tree’ (ruminations on humanity and its responsibilities to the planet); see Beans finding fresh perspective on some of the influences and themes that have shaped his catalogue to date.

Recorded at Big Jelly Studios in Ramsgate, this album features a host of friends and musicians including the spoken-word artist Dizraeli, acclaimed author Nick Hayes (on banjo), multi-talented gospel singer Sarah Telman (backing vocals, strings), Rosie Bristow of Holy Moly & The Crackers (accordion), Adriano Rossetti-Bonell (saxophone) and Graham Godfrey (drums), alongside contributions throughout from Mystery Jets’ Blaine Harrison and Jack Flanagan. With every fibre made with a little help from his friends, the cover art for the album is by London based painter Georgie Mason; whereas its videos come courtesy of old school friend and wildlife photographer: Curt Walsh.

Review

‘A Beautiful Place’ opens this record with clarity of purpose and in the most optimistic spirit. The vocal is clear and framed in the modern folk style. Production is superb in that it provides the vocal with a massive soundstage with every lyric as clear as day. It’s a compelling opening gambit. ‘Stones’ offers a more melancholic mood with great lyrics and a melody that drives the song along. ‘Blow Volcano Blow’ lightens the mood somewhat with a jaunty vibe that rolls along and that would guarantee audience participation in a live setting. Joyous and great!

‘Not Everybody Thinks We’re Doomed’ is a bouncy, highly optimistic ditty with lyrics that leave no room for doubt: “The world is full of wonderful people living meaningful lives/Doing excellent things in order to survive/Every human is born with a big kind heart and the capacity to have a broken heart…”

‘The Tree Of The Year’ offers a slow pace and steady rhythm in what is a sadder song that pleads for something better. It’s a moving song that’s accompanies by the typical judicial and subtle instrumental arrangement. ‘Humans’ pretty well sums up the human condition with lyrics like “what makes us human, we are human after all.” The melody is one of the strongest here and I suspect this could make the BBC Radio 2 playlist. Concluding track ‘Love Yourself’ is my pick of the record with its more assertive instrumental arrangement, backing vocals, strong melody and powerful message. The lyrics are excellent and moving: “Well, religion got old and the future got scary…a new day is dawning, they’ll sing different songs tell different stories…be yourself, believe in yourself...”

The record offers a diversity of pace and moods with every intelligent and poetic lyrics a model of clarity, unhindered by over-production. It’s a record that will appeal to many with humanity at its heart and hope in its soul.

4/5

BEANS ON TOAST - TOUR DATES 2021/22

4/12- GUILDFORD Boileroom
5/12- BEDFORD Esquires
6/12- COVENTRY Kasbah
7/12- ST ALBANS The Horn
8/12- TUNBRIDGE WELLS The Forum
9/12- BATH Moles
10/12- TRURO The Old Bakery
11/12- PLYMOUTH The Junction
12/12- EXETER The Phoenix
13/12- STROUD- Prince Albert - SOLD OUT
14/12- READING Facebar
15/12- DERBY The Venue
16/12- STOKE The Sugarmill
17/12- LIVERPOOL Phase One - SOLD OUT
18/12- LEICESTER Soundhouse
22/02- PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood rooms
23/02- BRIGHTON Chalk
24/02- NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
25/02- LEEDS Brudenell Social Club
26/02- BARROW Underground Music Society
27/02- SHEFFIELD The Leadmill
01/03- HULL Social
02/03- EDINBURGH Voodoo Rooms
03/03- GLASGOW Stereo
04/03- MANCHESTER Gorilla
05.03- NEWCASTLE Tyne Bank Brewery
06/03- NORWICH Norwich Arts Centre
08/03- OXFORD The Bullingdon
09/03- BIRMINGHAM Castle & Falcon
10/03- CARDIFF The Globe
11/03- BRISTOL Lost Horizon
12/03- LONDON Lafayette

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