Away Into a Memory By Robert Linton

 

Away Into a Memory

By

Robert Linton

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There is a simple pleasure in my life, one that doesn’t come often, but when it does it changes everything, that would be the release of new Robert Linton album and called Away Into a Memory. This is a guitarist who feels every note he plays, and creates ambience with every passing measure, Robert still holds a firm position in my top 50 albums of all time from all genres with his 2013 release Throughout The Autumn Light, but today we go on another journey of acoustic bliss with added instrumentation with him.

When I saw this arrive on my desktop my heart leaped as I knew this would be another entire album to get lost within, and I would be proved right, proudly the title track starts our voyage of plenty and called Away Into a Memory, the mournful manifestation of a good cello always hits the emotions, so with the addition of Graham Cullen on that very instrument magic was made.

Away in A Memory is a 9 track collection of some of the most inspiring and moving instrumental music you are ever likely to find, pieces like the memorable and emotive Times of Gathering create a summer farewell of a melody, whilst Reaching the Field's Edge, brought a whole new perspective to bear, and utilising the talents of a Sarah Milonovich violin was simply inspirational at manifesting a multi layered approach to the composition.

Covering the Pathway had that delightful minor edge to its composition that made it so very palpable, Linton’s guitar is the master narrator here, and partnered with a lady I haven’t heard from for simply years in Jennifer De Frayne, but this time on clarinet, this incredibly moving piece allowed us to float into the following gift with ease called In The Quiet Of The Trees, a very pleasant long form opus of colours, textures tones and timbres. The names continue to fall like autumn leaves as this masterful creation contained one of the finest English horn players in the world in Jill Haley, and the additional guitar of Trevor Gordon Hall took me further into the piece with the extra harmonics, this is Linton firmly on home ground and loving every minute of it.

The duet of Cullen and Linton gave us a blissful folk moment of peace and tranquillity on Aglow in the Windowpane, whilst the perambulating narrative of Searching for Clovers gave us a wistful reprise in nature, under a cotton wool of serene cumulus clouds, the symbiosis of the cello and guitar was simply magical.

The penultimate piece from the release is entitled Shaping the Moment, here the guitar, cello and violin all join musical hands and manifest a clever juxtaposition of tone and tenderness, again Linton’s prowess in his expertise on acoustic guitar is unmatched in its sensitivity, whilst the concluding musical narrative called Flickering of Summer Light brought us a perfect departing point, as we say farewell to another raging summer here in Cyprus, and we can be grateful for the autumn that follows, that essence is here for me, as is an added manifestation of musical grace courtesy of Premik Tubbs on EWI, and the stylish Jeff Haynes on various percussion.

Away Into a Memory by Robert Linton is an album that I will cherish through the autumn and winter months and beyond, it is a panacea to calm and ease the soul, and is an album that will literally bring into a reality, a sanctuary of soothing sounds to rest within. This is the album I have been waiting years for, its holds dear to its heart some of the most intelligent artistic and crafted performances within, and if there is any justice in this crazy world, this is an album that simply has to be a massive chart hit, and without doubt is most certainly award worthy too.