Saiichi Sugiyama - So Am I (2004)

Tracklist

01. Cellar Full Of Noise
02. Student Susan
03. Enough
04. Middle Of The Night
05. The Band Played On
06. Old Samurai
07. Shimmy
08. Shining Siren
09. Seagull
10. Komachi
11. I Never Turn
12. There For Me
13. The Band Played On (reprise)
14. Sweet Dreams


After working with Pete Brown on the Tribute album, Saiichi continued the partnership. Pete has co-produced and contributes lyrics, backing vocals and percussion. Other notable players are Zoot Money, Dave Clempson, Henry Lowther and Malcolm Bruce. David Hadley-page provides a flexible bass line with Simon Edgoose driving the rhythm.

This is an album with depth - give it three listens to get to know it. Good songs, strong arrangements (not over fussy!), excellent guitar playing and all round playing. The influences are diverse producing considerable musical variety. It's not a one style album but ranges from blues to rock to Beatles influenced pop songs.

Student Susan and Enough are definitely in the Beatles mode but beautifully so - by the third listen I was singing along with the former. Enough is hi-lighted by some fine guitar playing - controlled Claptonesque pyrotechnics blended into a Harrison melodic flow. They are preceded by the driving rock of the opening track Cellar Full of Noise and then are followed by a bit of Soul/R&B with Middle of the Night. This track has some more fine guitar work including a tasty contribution from Clem. Saiichi provides a strong vocal on The Band Played On - he knows the strengths and limitations of his voice.

The central track is Old Samurai - clearly a very personal song from Saiichi. It uses a well worn structure but Saiichi pulls it off - beautifully balanced with a ripper guitar solo. It's worth the price of entry alone. A rockin' boogie instrumental follows entitled Shimmy with more great guitar from Saiichi and Clem.

Only half way through the album and I'm stopping there. It continues in that quality vein - Komachi is another standout particularly for its fine arrangement. Go and buy it.

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