Rating: NNN
We Need A New F-Word is a dark cabaret of oh-so-quirky humour and melancholy from a man who claims he got ‘tired of making deliberately ugly music.’ The disc may be overly whimsical, yet some tunes convey the mournful, nomadic Gypsy quality provided by instruments including bassoons, accordion, trombones and harp. Ennio Morricone is an inspiration. The title track has no words, but most of the disc showcases (quirky) lyrics in songs with titles like All Of The Lawrence Welk Dancers Are Dead and Miscarriage Waltz. Then there’s The Ballad Of George Chuvalo, an upbeat little tune that sounds a little like it’s making fun of the personal tragedy of a man who lost his entire family. But I tend to be overly sensitive about these things, so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt.
Friendly Rich plays Lula Lounge tonight (Thursday, February 16).
