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Richard Walters: 'Weather Song'

Released: 26th October 2009

Label: Kartel

Richard Walters is 23 and he’s balding. He’s balding quite seriously. A worry for any self respecting creative. Healthy hair is a signifier for a fertile mind, tussling tresses an indicator of an artistic sensibility, so the cliché goes anyway.

All the greats who have crossed the threshold into old age have by and large maintained a healthy mane. Look at Bob Dylan, his nicotine stained locks still flow quite healthily as he approaches his 68th year, as does Paul McCartney’s, even if he does require the odd dip into the Just For Men jet black from time to time. Current new folk favourites Devendra Banhart, Sufjan Stevens and Andrew Bird have absolutely no trouble in that department. And just look at some of the musical worlds hero’s, who have aged and gone bald. Paul Simon. Van Morrison. Both haven’t sailed even close to a good album since their hair went south.

Richard’s hair has passed the stage were it can be creatively combed to cover up the unsettling truth, if his cranium were a season, it would be late Autumn, if the amount of hairs on his head signified his remaining time on earth, he would be wheezing.

Not to worry though, I suppose Bonnie Prince Billy is proof evident that male pattern baldness is not a barrier to musical success and Walters mutinying mop does not yet signal the draining away of his talent. The Weather Song,  a single from his first album “Animal” is a quietly effective ballad, a whimsical, ode to the trouble that love can sometimes bring.

As with probably anyone who has tried to make a folk record since the 1960’s there are echo’s of Nick Drake in the timid, whispered vocal twinned with some excellent acoustic guitar playing. The recording begins with a kind of “home made feel” like it was captured on an 8 track recorder in the back bedroom. In the final minute or so, it pans out and Richard is backed by a string section, it’s a nice touch and covers over the fact that the lyrics are not exactly thrilling.

It’s a pleasant song, not groundbreaking or particularly exciting but evidence enough that Walters’s is harbourer of a talent that should be watched, proof I suppose that you shouldn’t judge a man by his hairline.

Words: Robert Leeming

Rick
Posts: 8

Funny review
Reply #8 on : Fri January 01, 2010, 20:34:16

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A very funny review I have to say. Anyone carping about it doesn't have a sense of humour. Did you actually read it to the end? It rounds off by actually praising the music. If this guy is offended about it then he needs to get a thicker skin. Whats so offensive about 'excellent acoustic guitar playing'and 'Walters is a harbourer of talent that should be watched'?

Dave
Posts: 8

Re: Richard Walters: 'Weather Song'
Reply #7 on : Wed October 28, 2009, 14:52:17

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a good review.....a million times more entertaining than the song!

Bry
Posts: 8

call yourself a journalist..
Reply #6 on : Wed October 28, 2009, 13:40:41

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1) I don't even want to think about how long you pondered and how many thesauri you consulted to contrive the alliteration in "tussling tresses". It's clumsy to say the least.

2)In paragraph 2 you start with a plural "locks" and end with a singular "as does Paul McCartney's".

3)And the real winner.. "look at some of the musical world's hero's," HERO'S with an apostrophe? Really? REALLY?

Did you even GET an English GCSE? Fingers crossed for your sake that you're 12 and have a few more years to learn some grammar.

Gabe
Posts: 8

Re: Richard Walters: 'Weather Song'
Reply #5 on : Wed October 28, 2009, 13:20:08

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Great review, shame about the clear humour and/or personality bypasses that have been had by Walters himself and the other commenters above. The only person that comes over as a "twat" is the artist himself who has behaved like a petulant child over twitter.

H
Posts: 8

Re: Richard Walters: 'Weather Song'
Reply #4 on : Wed October 28, 2009, 12:26:30

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Wow aren't you 3 a light hearted bunch! i find the review quite funny and makes a refreshing change from the other more serious pieces
. i think this article is directed at people who have a sense of humour.

WithGlue
Posts: 8

Re: Richard Walters: 'Weather Song'
Reply #3 on : Wed October 28, 2009, 11:25:43

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The single most irrelevant review of a song I've ever read (including everything that's ever posted on pitchfork). Try writing about music next time, yeah?

S
Posts: 8

Re: Richard Walters: 'Weather Song'
Reply #2 on : Wed October 28, 2009, 11:21:37

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Wow robert leeming you really are a terrible music blogger, not only are your first few paragraphs irrelevant and quite offensive, but factually incorrect to boot, you are clearly a complete douche. May hair always spring from your nostrils, back and ears and sting when you pluck it.

PatrickJPC
Posts: 8

Robert Leeming, Not only are you a useless writer...
Reply #1 on : Wed October 28, 2009, 10:20:23

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But apparently you have the rather misguided idea that you're quite funny.

The first FOUR Paragraphs of your SIX paragraph article were all focused around Walter's hairline... which leads me to believe you perhaps don't have much interesting to say about music. Might you consider working for a fashion publication such as, 'In Style', or more realistically 'Some random fashion blog'. As I think this would suit you much better.

I'm not really going to go into explaining to you why Richard's music is quite exceptional within the realms of the genre that he exists, and why you are simply wrong about his lyrics.... because not only would you fail to understand... but you'd probably drop your pot of Tigi Bedhead in the process... and I wouldn't want to be responsible for your carpet cleaning bill.

Please Robert Leeming, for God's sake, GROW UP.

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