Speck On A Clover
Unfinished Hearts, 2022
8/10
The former frontman of Mighty Purple and owner of The Space venue, Stephen Peter Rodgers wrote an impressive 40 songs in the span of a year during the pandemic, and he trimmed that down to the 12 diverse and very well thought out tunes present here.
The album opens with the mysterious and flowing “Back Into The Muddy River”, where Rodgers’ expressive singing is met with agile keys and crisp drumming that complements the atmospheric guitar, and “Real Life” follows with a thumping energy that’s a bit dark but still quite melodic in its cautious, swirling climate.
At the halfway point, the intimate “Wish I Didn’t Sway” lands in more straightforward folk territory, where acoustic guitar and poetic singing emits an introspective tone, while “No Matter What Comes Our Way” is even more bare, and showcases a pretty sense of minimalism that’s immediately absorbing.
“The Better Of You Yet” arrives near the end, and places whistling and strings into the stirring Americana, and “What Am I” exits with a quicker pace of singing and strumming that seems like it could have been penned in any decade since the ‘60s.
Rodgers felt that the venue business was leeching all of his creative spirit over the decades, but you certainly wouldn’t be able to tell that by this very literate indie-rock affair that embraces folk, electro-pop and many variations of rock that he has much experience and skill with.
Travels well with: Leland And The Silver Wells- Straight To Your Town; Crash Taylor- Retired Outlaw