ANDY WHITE – The Guilty & The Innocent

Maybe it’s just me – though I doubt it – but many a sympathetic soul will relate to the fact that more than occasionally Andy White has felt like throwing something at the televi- sion. Fast becoming a national pastime, what this really reflects is of course the growing obsession with all that’s vacuous and just plain wrong in life. Not that Mr White advocates hurling random objects around your abode – it might cause damage after all – better to listen to his latest offering, release frus- tration and put things into perspective again, whilst nodding sagely at almost every word he sings. A collection of broadly social and political anthems, he sees this as a record of two distinct halves – The Guilty then The Innocent – amongst the former count a certain American president, politicians in general and those with self-interest; amongst the latter, victims of Grenfell, Manchester, the homeless, the dispossessed of whatever stripe.

Setting the agenda on the inside sleeve, when it comes to the music This Is Not A Television Show documents those things that the media reduces to a triviality when in fact they’re deeply serious. ”England’s dreaming all got lost,” he sings over an insistent Blondie beat. “Look here son I’m saying to you, you’ve got to do the very best you can do.” The voice of the individual is significant to his thinking. Promises Broken has a ’60s protest vibe dealing with the promises those in power make and then conveniently forget to act on. There’s a lot that’s tongue-in-cheek, especially the satirical Very Fine People which concerns those full of their own importance, neatly contrasted with Dignity where yer man notes the least of needs are withheld from those who require them most and such circumstances are often swept under the carpet. Unheard spotlights that often it’s those ignored individuals who look to make the biggest responses, not always for the better. But for all the carping Andy White remains a hopeful chap. There’s Jeremy, a hymn of optimism for a more equitable society, while in the title track he finds signs of a coalescing resistance and a desire for action, a Dylanish stream of consciousness with fast acoustic strumming and wailing harmonica. Throughout AW’s in good voice, mixing electric and unplugged with consummate ease, hoping to awake as many as possible from the stupor of modern life.