released: December 2007
"Continuing to confound expectations and push the sonic boundaries of what a
singer/songwriter really is, New Yorker Russell Hubley returns here with new album
REFRACTOR. Much like it's superb predecessor, CAVERN MUSIC, REFRACTOR is a record
that deftly criss crosses genres and styles, from the trip hop meets offbeat funk of BLEAT
to the blues squall of HARD LINE, Hubley briefly metamorphosing into some bizarre Gary
Moore meets Beck type character; a sound seemingly millions of miles from the moody Ian
Curtis like solemnity of his darker sounding moments.
It's this musical schizophrenia though that propels Russell Hubley to such musically lofty
heights, the lo fi folkisms of BE GOOD another radical shift in directions, this time round,
the singer/songwriter wearing his bluegrass and depression era folk influences on his
sleeve and crafting a timeless tune that plays out like some long lost Americana classic.
Continuing the restless musical mood swinging, SOMETHING REALLY GREAT is a lurching
psychobilly groover that pays homage to the Cramps and Killing Joke, Hubley employing
distorted vocals and chugging guitar noise. Putting a garage rocking spin on John Lennon's
GIMME SOME TRUTH, Russell Hubley does a pretty decent impersonation job, capturing
that sneering attitude and cementing his place in any Beatles tribute band that'll have him.
A more downbeat take on Buddy Holly's RAINING IN MY HEART finds Hubley injecting a
more personal, confessional spin on things; this time round delivering something that feels
much more from the depths of the soul, rather than straight up karaoke.
SAFE is a tender, heartfelt tune that echoes that Beatles influence, Hubley adopting
another Lennon-esque croon, whilst pretty slide guitar licks are reminiscent of George
Harrison at his finest. With closing number, THE LAST THING I KNOW, Russell Hubley ends
things in similarly low key and heartfelt ways, crooning gently over tender acoustic guitars
and the occasional drum snare, evoking Laurel Canyon singer/songwriter greats and
climaxing in a laid back mellow haze of delicate beauty.
REFRACTOR is another record from Russell Hubley that somehow defies generalisation and
pigeon holing, this New York singer/songwriter refusing to bow down to conventions,
someone much more inclined to defy expectations and hop from genre to genre as the
mood takes him. In places warm and inviting, at other times downbeat and intense,
REFRACTOR is anything but predictable, but it is a record that is at all times wonderful and
intriguing."
singer/songwriter really is, New Yorker Russell Hubley returns here with new album
REFRACTOR. Much like it's superb predecessor, CAVERN MUSIC, REFRACTOR is a record
that deftly criss crosses genres and styles, from the trip hop meets offbeat funk of BLEAT
to the blues squall of HARD LINE, Hubley briefly metamorphosing into some bizarre Gary
Moore meets Beck type character; a sound seemingly millions of miles from the moody Ian
Curtis like solemnity of his darker sounding moments.
It's this musical schizophrenia though that propels Russell Hubley to such musically lofty
heights, the lo fi folkisms of BE GOOD another radical shift in directions, this time round,
the singer/songwriter wearing his bluegrass and depression era folk influences on his
sleeve and crafting a timeless tune that plays out like some long lost Americana classic.
Continuing the restless musical mood swinging, SOMETHING REALLY GREAT is a lurching
psychobilly groover that pays homage to the Cramps and Killing Joke, Hubley employing
distorted vocals and chugging guitar noise. Putting a garage rocking spin on John Lennon's
GIMME SOME TRUTH, Russell Hubley does a pretty decent impersonation job, capturing
that sneering attitude and cementing his place in any Beatles tribute band that'll have him.
A more downbeat take on Buddy Holly's RAINING IN MY HEART finds Hubley injecting a
more personal, confessional spin on things; this time round delivering something that feels
much more from the depths of the soul, rather than straight up karaoke.
SAFE is a tender, heartfelt tune that echoes that Beatles influence, Hubley adopting
another Lennon-esque croon, whilst pretty slide guitar licks are reminiscent of George
Harrison at his finest. With closing number, THE LAST THING I KNOW, Russell Hubley ends
things in similarly low key and heartfelt ways, crooning gently over tender acoustic guitars
and the occasional drum snare, evoking Laurel Canyon singer/songwriter greats and
climaxing in a laid back mellow haze of delicate beauty.
REFRACTOR is another record from Russell Hubley that somehow defies generalisation and
pigeon holing, this New York singer/songwriter refusing to bow down to conventions,
someone much more inclined to defy expectations and hop from genre to genre as the
mood takes him. In places warm and inviting, at other times downbeat and intense,
REFRACTOR is anything but predictable, but it is a record that is at all times wonderful and
intriguing."
UK MUSIC REVIEW
by Mike Bond (November, 2008):
by Mike Bond (November, 2008):
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