“MUST LISTEN”
Robb Johnson The Optimist Hotel Irregular Records IRR132
Robb Johnson says the songs on The Optimist Hotel are all linked by hopefulness. It’s a compelling way to describe the album, which features a wide-ranging cast of characters in locations as far apart as Hounslow, Lancashire, Jenin and Spain.
But, as Johnson also acknowledges, not all the characters he sings about live happily ever after, and The Optimist Hotel is thought-provoking and, at times, disquieting. Of course, none of this will come as a surprise to those familiar with the Sussexbased singer-songwriter’s work.
Johnson has built up a formidable reputation, often for songs of protest, and his material has regularly featured in the repertoires of other leading performers. Part of his appeal seems to be that his passion for freedom and commitment to social justice is tempered by humanity, sensitivity and humour, and this engaging formula is as strong as ever on The Optimist Hotel. The Battle Of Bamber Bridge, Johnson’s account of an incident in a Lancashire village during the second world war, is characteristically uncompromising: “You can use big words like mutiny, democracy and freedom / But they’re all just words till everybody’s free / Till everybody’s free and equal.”
Jana Is 16 is the troubling story of a Palestinian girl shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. Eileen O’Shaughnessy pays tribute to the long-suffering “invisible wife” of George Orwell, who was in Spain with the author during the civil war in the 1930s and, some believe, had a significant though uncredited influence on his writing.
By contrast, Wizz Jones Plays Guitar is an affectionate nod to the folk legend who died in April, with Johnson’s guitar emulating Jones’s instantly recognisable playing style.
It’s worth pointing out that though Johnson usually receives most acclaim for his songwriting, he’s a highly skilled guitarist.
Most of the songs on The Optimist Hotel centre around his intimate and engaging vocal delivery and nicely judged guitar accompaniments, with the Flemish folk singer Vera Coomans plus piano and viola adding some extra colour in places.
All in all, the album is an absorbing listen and another testament to Johnson’s mastery.
Though the lyrical content is often challenging, the album is no downer: as well as hopefulness, perhaps what also comes across most of all is Johnson’s belief in the human spirit.
Available from irregularrecords.co.uk
Paul Solman
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