With the current folk revival going on in the UK – from the most traditional to the pop/folk crossover – every so often an artist comes along that inspires a mixture of awe, confusion and joy in equal measure. Rev Simpkins did just that with his latest album, Lions. From the blasting “state of the nation address in Bb major” originally released as a single to coincide with the Queen’s official birthday, Elizabeth, through the blues-gospel of Daniel and the Lion (with some nice guitar work) and the New Orleans-style jazz of I Was England’s Last Honey Bee.
Simpkins wears his religion on his sleeve, but in a peculiarly English way that endears and fascinates (and is a welcome change to the bigotry of much US-inspired fundamentalism) – even with the American-roots musical inspiration. This is the gritty Christianity of Graham Greene’s whiskey-priests rather than the cringe-worthiness of Cliff Richard, and in that respect is reminiscent of Richard Thompson’s Islam.
After a whirlwind journey through patriotism, despair, environmentalism, temptation and a wall of chaotic sound the album finishes with what sounds like a complete reinterpretation of the gospel ‘John the Revelator’ which gives Simpkins the chance to showcase what an excellent guitarist he really is, and is a fitting end to a challenging and satisfying album.
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