KEVIN HEWICK
NEVER GIVE UP ON A SONG
BOTHERATION
CD
Leicester's most expressive and personal songwriter reaches album number 10 with what might be his most consistent set since, well, his last one. Kevin Hewick's first five albums were scattered between various labels and three decades of creative torment - his last five have all appeared in the last decade, been well-received and are now available through respected distributer Burning Shed. Things are looking up for the former Cherry Red and Factory artist.
Never Give Up On a Song is typically Hewick - by turns autobiographical, observational and sometimes railing against the pricks and injustices. And this is long before the lockdown woes and isolationist world we've all been in since early 2020.
Recorded the year before with a crack team of musicians, there's plenty of heartfelt romanticism and barbed couplets we've come to know and love - one listen to A Lover and an Unkind Word will confirm this. But there's also reflection and celebration. My Turn For a Miracle tells the tale of Hewick's grandfather facing almost certain death with shot and shell during the Battle of the Somme a century ago - he was one of two survivors out of ten soldiers who took a direct hit.
Wendy O focuses on the 'wild' woman of art-punksters The Plasmatics who had a softer but self-destructive side to her stage persona. The 70 Year Itch kinda sings for itself - it's about the gnarly and unwanted rise of fascism once again "because we're ignoring history so history will try to come back...". Right on, brother. As Kevin eloquently states at the very start of this 60-minute set - "I play a guitar that has 6 red strings. And red lyrics are all that I can sing...". That review in the Daily Express won't be forthcoming any time soon then.
As well as the stories, melody naturally plays a huge part in Hewick's ouevre and this is in abundance on Wendy O (great intro), Gold Plated and the closest we get to pop, Humankind. Perhaps the prettiest tune is reserved for Sweet-Itch Stallion at the end of the album - close your eyes and listen.
As with most of Hewick's previous output and to paraphrase this album's title, you'll be glad he hasn't given up on his songs - I imagine he has a welter of them building up like a pressure cooker after the last two years of political 'fun'.