Pompadour

In the four years since his last solo recording, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien has been recording and touring with Jerry Douglas’ Earls of Leicester, collaborating with longtime pal Darrell Scott, and participating in the reformation of Hot Rize (one of the most revered bands in bluegrass history). He also separated from his wife and the heart-rending experience served as inspiration for a number of the compositions on Pompadour. Indeed, the album traces the process of a break-up from self-realisation (‘The Tulips on the Table’) and the mechanics of separation, through therapeutic exercises (‘Gimme Little Somethin’ Take Her Off My Mind’) to, ultimately, an accommodation (‘The Water is Wise’, which O’Brien co-wrote with Sarah Jarosz). O’Brien's extra-dry wit and smooth delivery lends an ironic, self-deprecating poignancy to the lyrics he's singing. Mixed in with the real-life drama are terrific instrumentals such as ‘Snake Basket’, based on an Irish reel, old-time tunes and an improbable take on, of all things, James Brown's ‘Get Up Offa That Thing’. Who knew you could square-dance to James Brown?