In 2023, Trashcan Sinatras frontman John Douglas released his long awaited solo debut. Rooted in acoustic based material, the eponymously named record allowed fans to experience a much more introspective performer. This follow up EP finds the musician branching out just a little – with the help of friends Boo Hewerdine, Eddi Reader and others – but the material still retains a very sophisticated singer-songwriter approach, which fans mightn’t associate with his better known band work.
The title cut extends the acoustic themes from the main album, with Douglas picking some rather mellow chords to create an instantly appealing intro. With the bulk of the number sharing a gentle folk-pop melody that sounds like it’d be happy to slide into an old Rickie Lee Jones number at any second, it’s a track with an old heart. But therein lies the charm: the tune is great, especially in the way that wheezing accordions flesh out a very old school sound, but the best moments here are supplied by John’s lead vocal. He adds a genuinely human quality that makes the understated melody feel more vibrant. Against the repetitive chords, he adopts an imploring tone and the protagonist sings of fairly mundane things before using “still or sparkling?” as a metaphor for human feelings, but that, too, gives this number a massive appeal. It’s a track that’s never afraid to show off a fragility, despite being armed with a tight melody, and the featured vocal, especially, conveys a brilliantly natural flair.
Even more mellow, ‘Across The Bridge Where Angels Dwell’ utilises acoustic chords to create a soft, flowing backdrop. The melody falls somewhere between Simon & Garfunkel at their most reflective and a deep, stripped down cut from Big Star, but for lovers of John’s solo debut, the music will also capture a very familiar sound. His acoustic playing is unfussy, but the track never requires any more depth, as it’s the vocal that’s intended to be the big draw. John’s voice takes on a Paul Buchanan/Blue Nile like ache, which sells the melody in hand, but it’s a real thrill to hear Eddi Reader on back-ups, even though she’s obviously there adding a musical colourant rather than taking a “featured guest” stance. Her quiet tones augment the chorus with a ghost-like tone, which very much adds a haunting element to this number’s heart-wrenching melody. For those already familiar with the LP, an alternate “band version” of ‘Lost’ provides a more than pleasing alternative, with the oacoustic elements are boosted by extra accordion and another vocal from Reader. This is obviously more of a fleshing out than drastic reworking, but the extra instrumentation really brings out the old folk elements of the tune itself, without taking the focus away from John’s emotive vocal.
Rounding out the EP, a recording of the Tom Waits classic ‘Johnsburg, Illinois’ has a similarly heartfelt quality to the original ‘Swordfishtrombones’ cut, despite a slightly bigger sound. Some perfect acoustic guitar work is augmented by accordion, which ensures this take manages to keep the very European flavour of the original Waits take, and the main melody remains unchanged, but it’s certainly not a “phoned in” performance. For those who’ve maybe struggled with Tom’s growling over the years, it is a real treat, since Douglas gets right to the song’s emotional core, and his soaring voice almost sounds as if its waiting to crack when delivering an unapologetically sad melody. A truly great and unexpected cover.
This EP provides a superb compliment to the album itself, but can still be more than enjoyed on its own merits. It’s good to hear the already superb ‘Lost’ given a different send off, but the new material here is just as strong. The presence of a great Tom Waits tune, Eddi Reader and cult hero Boo Hewerdine means the release stands a chance of pulling in a few new and curious ears, but everything here is first rate. Much like ‘John Douglas’ (the album), ‘Still Or Sparkling?’ presents a performer whose solo songwriting sounds pretty much timeless, and whose performing abilities are without question. A short, but highly recommended listen.
November 2024