Walter Egan - Fascination
Walter Egan
’Fascination’ - new 2021 studio album
(Red Steel Music)
“A diverse and diverting tale of surf and suffering from an enduring, magnetic talent.”
9/10
By Andy Rawll
Available now from Amazon Prime - click here for details
From the fervent heat of ‘Hot summer nights’ to the forlorn fervour of ‘Hearts on fire’ and the compelling attraction of ‘Magnet and steel’, the bittersweet songs of Walter Egan continue to beguile with compelling tales of loss, longing and bewonderment in the human condition.
Following the groovy psychedelia of 2017’s excellent True Songs comes this year’s darkly delicious ‘Fascination’ that continues a rich vein of form for a songwriting King of Queens, whose Californian dreams depict much more than brown leaves and grey skies.
This minstrel knight’s tale from the court of 70s West Coast musical royalty sees Egan’s Lancelot in thrall to Pamela Des Barres’ Guinevere. It’s inspired an ardent thirteen song-cycle that reveals the strength of our hero’s lyrical swordplay and battle-hardened musicianship.
It’s a superb surf-pop study in suffering that’s contemplative and uplifting in equal measure. The emotional tide might be high and the undercurrent treacherous, but the ride back to the shore is one of exhilaration and release.
Yet, as a concept piece, the album has unexpected diversity and depth. Those expecting a Hollywood confection in the style of ‘Pamelot The Musical’ or ‘Pammy, A Rock Opera’ will be sadly disappointed.
From infatuation and dejection through resignation and reflection, Egan’s succinct and suave songs are delivered with the assurance of a man, whose renown has long since been divorced from the patronage of the Laurel Canyon crowd, the ‘Mac or the surf shack pack.
‘Fascination’ is aptly titled indeed and turns out to be much more than the sum of its parts, with an intriguing blend of styles that serve the subject so well. From the characterful porch-swing country of Waking Up To You, finally, to the garage grunge of Pride and the insistent beat of the new-wave infused Gestures, the complete album conjures a maelstrom of feelings with every track never less than appealing.
Official Video - ‘Miss Pamela’ from Walter Egan’s ‘Fascination’ (Red Steel Music)
Scratching the Americana-jangle surface of the album reveals a darker psychedelic vibe, exemplified by the dreamy REM swoon of Woo to Woe, the rootsy Neil Young meets MC5 swagger of Lovers and the heartbreaking A Fool In Love sounding like Tom Petty jamming with Blue Oyster Cult.
Despite the album’s care-worn, lovelorn theme, there’s a wonderfully upbeat groove, including the perfectly seasoned prime-time slices of power-pop of Yesterday, Forever and Today and lead-single Miss Pamela that propel the listener into the true heart of the matter. Equally, the barn-dance bluster of Fading Love is a contradiction to the underlying fragility of Walter’s words. It’s only on the anguished coda of Hell I Know It’s Over that the hurt of a life’s love lost reveals itself with Egan’s wry and expressive voice as captivating as ever.
A diverse and diverting tale of surf and suffering that touches the heart and fires the soul.
MORE INFORMATION:
Fascination - Album Purchase Link (Amazon)
Walter Egan - official web page
Walter Egan - social media (Facebook)
Walter Egan - fan page (Facebook)
BACK CATALOGUE RELEASES
In parallel to the release of ‘Fascination’ as his latest solo album, there’s an ongoing series of reissues of much of Walter’s back catalogue, with four expanded redux releases, already available for his acclaimed albums: Mad Dog, The Meaning Of Live, Walternative, and Apocalypso Now…and more to follow.
Each redux album includes unreleased material and is accompanied by a two-track single with a previously unreleased B-side all lovingly mastered by Bella Corich at Loudpaw.
There's also a further release of two new EPs of Hot Summer Nights and
Magnet And Steel with both containing extra tracks.
Visit www.walteregan.com or follow him on @waltereganofficial for the latest news.
