Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Wilson, Ray
Label: Sandport Ltd.
Release: 2009
Runtime: 44:30
Rating: 4.5/5
The world-renowned Scottish singer Ray Wilson hardly needs a lengthy introduction. He’s a name that has commanded huge respect for years, both among music gourmets and among slightly less demanding fans of quality pop rock. Ray first made people sit up in 1994, when he created the hit “Inside” with Stiltskin and rode it to the top of the British charts. He got even more attention as a member of the prog rock titans Genesis, where he came in as the replacement for Phil Collins. He pulled off the thankless job of filling Collins’ shoes with flying colors and recorded a superb, though critically overlooked, album with them: “Calling All Stations” (1997).
Despite the good response the album got in European countries, it was a complete commercial flop in the US, so after the European tour Ray said goodbye to the Genesis, by then on hiatus, which some fans still regret to this day. After leaving Genesis he set off on a solo career and recorded two very good albums, “Change” (2003) and “The Next Best Thing” (2004), both of which were nicely received by critics. He occasionally works with his old band Stiltskin, but his heart remains with his solo path.
“Propaganda Man” is Ray’s third solo album. On it he keeps crafting emotionally and atmospherically rich forms of melodic rock with an emphasis on plenty of acoustic motifs, while venturing into some musical territory he hasn’t visited before. The most notable of these ventures is the use of some world music elements. Besides building plenty of acoustic arrangements, the album is stuffed with a wealth of different sonic samples that form a beautifully layered ambient backdrop. As always, though, the main strength of the individual pieces lies in Ray’s excellent vocals, which captivate the listener instantly with their incredible warmth, charisma and expression of deep emotion.
He wrote and played most of the acoustic guitar arrangements himself, while Ali Ferguson backs him up on electric guitar, shining throughout the album with a melancholic style built on laying down dreamy bluesy lines. Besides Ferguson, most of the rest of the supporting cast is made up of current Stiltskin members. Ray’s production is excellent too; there’s an almost harmonious sonic clarity between the acoustic melodies. What will delight fans of Mr. Wilson most, though, is that “Propaganda Man” boasts an exceptional range of moods and textures.
The opener “Bless Me” already confirms the outstanding stylistic and atmospheric variety that rules the whole record, mixing rich rhythmic ethno motifs, a juicy bed of ambient sound samples and orientally tinged backing vocals from guest singer Tesiree Priti Kaitesi. The moment Ray’s vocal comes in, hitting the listener right in the soul with its emotional depth and astonishing ease, every track gains extra atmospheric breadth. The way Ray glides vocally and musically through the individual motifs while delivering mostly deeply personal poetry is something exceptionally rare in its sincerity these days, and plenty of music connoisseurs will appreciate that. Fans of “Calling All Stations” will be glad to hear that the cult Israeli drummer Nir Z guests on “Bless Me”. He played most of the drums on that album and filled the role of touring drummer on the 1998 Genesis tour.
The album doesn’t lack for calm acoustic ballads either, such as “Lately” and “Razorlite”, where Ray’s singing over gentle guitar chords and rolling keyboard accompaniment is always a winning combination. Among the multidimensional, dare I say prog rock, creations is the excellent “The Brakes Are Gone”, where the superb atmospheric keyboard motifs bring to mind the likes of modern Marillion or Porcupine Tree. The title track is another highlight, with the singer blending world music rhythmic patterns, orchestral curtains and female backing vocals into something close to pure ambient perfection. Also worth singling out is the excellent “Things Don’t Stop”, which wins you over with its poetic nature and dramatic acoustic melody. Ray’s singing here, in its fatalism, is almost on the level of a David Bowie, and inside you’ll also find a phenomenal closing guitar solo from Ferguson. Most of Ray’s lyrics are based on personal experiences and a critical view of modern society, with a minority dealing with heartbreak, but he delivers even those without the slightest hint of sappiness.
With “Propaganda Man”, Ray has made yet another superb and atmospherically diverse album, one that stands out first and foremost for conveying his most sincere emotions, which this fantastic singer pairs with perfectly matched sonic backdrops. All the eternal music romantics and lovers of vocal honesty who can’t stand the vocal sappiness that dominates pop and melodic rock far too often these days absolutely must not overlook this one. The former Genesis frontman remains a devoted propagandist of his own brand of ambient romanticism on his latest release, touching the listener’s deepest emotions with almost unbelievable ease. The only shame is that, unlike the previous two albums, which came out on the established German prog rock label Inside Out, “Propaganda Man” was released on Ray’s own independent label, which means that, thanks to poor publicity and limited distribution, plenty of people will simply miss it.
Lineup
Ray Wilson – vocals, guitar and harmonica
Ali Ferguson – lead guitar and backing vocals
Lawrie MacMillan – bass guitar and backing vocals
Ashley MacMillan – drums and percussion
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Graeme Hughes – guitar on “Things Don’t Stop”
Scot Spence – additional guitar on “Bless Me”, “Progaganda Man” and “Cosmic Baby”
Kim McLelland – piano on “Razorlite” and organ on “Modern Day Miracle”, “The Brakes Are Gone”, “Propaganda Man” and “Frequency”
David Archibald – piano on “The Brakes Are Gone” and “Frequency”
Gregor Lowrey – accordion on “Modern Day Miracle” and “The Brakes Are Gone”
Tesiree Priti Kaitesi – backing vocals on “Bless Me” and “Propaganda Man”
Alvin Mills – bass guitar on “Bless Me”
Uwe Metzler – guitar on “Bless Me”
Nir Z – drums on “Bless Me”
Production
Ray Wilson
Tracklist
1. Bless Me
2. Lately
3. The Brakes Are Gone
4. Razorlite
5. Propaganda Man
6. Frequency
7. Modern Day Miracle
8. Cosmic Baby
9. Things Don’t Stop
10. More Propaganda
11. On the Other Side
