12th of June
Lyle Lovett
Keywords
Reviews (4)
Americana UK
d. 23. May 2022
By
By
Graham Bollands
d. 23. May 2022
"'Understudy' consists of twelve new songs, all written during lockdown in his Glasgow flat ... It was a time when he was unable to visit his father in a care home before he died ... Yet there is real warmth and also a great deal of hope as well; during lockdown he talked to his dad every day in the lead up to his death, reflected in the lyrics about fond memories that are to be found in a number of the songs, and he made new remote friends and rediscovered the joy of writing. So there is, without doubt, a joyful narrative running throughout the lyrics, and images of new beginnings ... Hewerdine has always had the ability to come up with great tunes, and this album is full of them ... And on top of that, his voice has never sounded better! As a result, 'Understudy' is a truly beautiful album, and Boo Hewerdine shows himself yet again to be one of Britain's best songwriters".
At the barrier
d. 25. May 2022
By
By
John Barlass
d. 25. May 2022
"Songs of tender reflection from an often-overlooked national treasure ... Subtle instrumentation is a feature that pervades Understudy. Boo plays just about everything, including guitars, piano and light percussion and producer Chris Pepper has layered Boo's contributions, and those of the band of guest helpers - Gustaf Ljunggren amongst them - carefully and tastefully. And that approach pays particular dividends in Useful, an excellent song that articulates the sentiment that we all feel as the years pass, and we consider whether we remain useful or relevant to a changing world. Boo's slidy guitar lines and soft percussion meshes delightfully with more of Gustaf's charming lap steel".
Folk radio UK
d. 30. May 2022
By
By
Mike Davies
d. 30. May 2022
"'Understudy' finds Boo Hewerdine] in a reflective mood, largely informed by the pandemic years, musically akin to its predecessor's 30s and 40s influences, the songs both full-band arrangements and stripped back guitar or piano settings. The latter's the case for the opening Magnets, which, coloured by violin and Gustaf Ljunggren's lapsteel, is a dreamy meditation on growing older that refuses to see ageing through a negative lens ... While consistently critically acclaimed, Hewerdine has released 18 albums with only one making the Top 100 (...), always, as per this album title, waiting in the wings for his moment in the spotlight. But, as he consistently proves, he's second to no one".
Folking.com
d. 17. May 2022
By
By
Dai Jeffries
d. 17. May 2022
"'Understudy' is the rather self-deprecating title of his new album, a record that, for me, is about coming to terms with middle age, about finding a role in life and sustaining relationships as the world moves on ... Boo starts out simply (...) but with major contributions from Gustaf Ljunggren ... There are appearances on single tracks by Angus Lyon, Pete Harvey, Irish a cappella group The Key Notes and Ben Hewerdine but then we also have a string quartet featuring Patsy Reid and Seonaid Aitken. Not quite so simple, really ... 'Understudy' is a delightful album; light but thoughtful, delicately arranged and performed".