https://writteninmusic.com/albumrecensie/malcolm-holcombe-tricks-of-the-trade/
Review · Roots · August 17, 2021
Malcolm Holcombe
Tricks Of The Trade
4 Stars
Written By: Cis van Looy Released by: Need To Know Music
Immediately recognizable by the illustrations, the more recent work of Malcolm Holcombe is always wrapped in hand-made drawings, primitive pencil sketches that radiate a wry gloom and an identical atmosphere can be found in his music. Holcombe is now familiar with the tricks of the musical profession and has since had his share of the misery. This theme has been covered extensively in the sequel to Come Hell or High Water.
Tricks of The Trade drives on a rudimentary blend of country and folk blues that Holcombe captures in Nashville with the help of some musicians. In addition to the trusted, versatile snarman Jared Tyler, another old friend is present at the sessions. Dave Roe provides rhythmic support in his Deadley Sins Studio with son Jerry, alternating with Miles McPherson.
With rochling timbre, somewhere between the registers of Waits and Prine, Holcombe debites observations of a gray, heartless world that he undoubtedly experienced himself. "I've tasted and I wasted the good life that I had, my poor selfish drinkin' made a rich ol man go mad", Mary Gauthier and Jaimee Harris are the background chorus. Holcombe's habitat is only sporadic for some scarce light, usually a dark cloud cover he curses as in the dobro-wavy Damn Rainy Day.
Even stronger is his aversion to the merciless, money-controlled, society he contests in songs such as the feverish picking-up of Crazy Man Blues and the explicit Money Train that wells up with floating bass and grim electric guitar. "The cops take away your children," he says in Kin, the result of a president's ruthless policy with dictatorial tendencies, the songwork dates back to 2019.
"Ain't nothin" good to say ‘bout a politician's plan when a family goes hungry on Tennessee land, denounces the indifference to the misery. Ruraal bluegrass tint work, Holcombe is from North Carolina and cherishes his pride and independence in difficult circumstances."I'd rather be poor honest to God than a rich lyin' son of a bitch for a boss". When the universal path is abandoned for a while, as in the love song Lenora Cynthia, brought to beautiful cello tones by Ron de la Vega, the feeling of anger prevails. Happy songs aren't exactly what the gifted troubadour brings, but they stay from the first listen.
Malcolm Holcombe's Tricks Of The Trade album was released by Need To Know Music on August 20, 2021.