Sean Taylor is a force that transcends genres, his lyricism reflecting considerable empathy, dazzling intelligence and remarkable observational skills. Sean’s inimitable voice, guitar and piano are the centerpiece of Texas-based Mark Hallman’s simpatico ensemble for The Beat Goes On. Ten of the 11 songs are written entirely by Sean, plus an interpretation of a poem by the American laureate Robert Frost.
From the moment Irish jazz maestro Michael Buckley hits the first notes of his supreme soprano saxophone introduction to ‘”It’s Always Love’”, the bar is set high for this brilliant new studio album. Michael appeared on Sean’s breakthrough LP Walk With Me over a decade ago, and his presence here is equally inspirational. Sean’s atmospheric, whispering vocals enhance the poetic genius of his lyrics: “We work hard every day just trying to get by /All the dreams we had we put to one side /We forget about what make us feel so alive /When we find someone special/ it is a reason to survive /It’s always love.”
On “Lament for The Dead,” Sean’s huskier vocal delivery and intricate guitar work are complemented by Austin resident, cellist Brian Standefer, whose somber strings alongside Hallman’s mesmeric percussive backdrop create a sense of pandemic despair. “New year arrives and bleeds with death/ Distant sirens and final breaths/Love, loss and fear everywhere/The silence of darkness chokes the air/ Lament for the dead.”
The jazz-infused piano of the title track transforms the mood to one of up-beat optimism, Buckley again proving his credentials as a jazz saxophonist at the top of his game with his creative interpolations. “Better Times” continues this sense of confidence in the future “where artists and lovers stand tall in the hope of better times.” This is a trademark Taylor and Hallman harmonious duet with the latter playing bass and drums. “Nocturne,” a solo instrumental, showcases Sean’s classical piano style which he confesses became something of a “beautiful obsession” during lockdown.’
The sumptuously arranged “Nowhere To Hide,” featuring Mark’s fluid keys and Buckley’s clever fills and piercing solos, was also written at the height of the Covid pandemic. “Be My Love In The Rain” is taken from a line in the Robert Frost poem Storm Song. Poetry has always been a huge influence on Sean’s work and this song combines his guitar virtuosity with delicate piano accompaniment. Hallman hits the groove perfectly with his gentle, flowing, rhythmic accompaniment.
The uptempo “Let Kindness Be Your Guide,” a song about friendship and the belief that goodness always prevails, is underpinned by Mark’s superb pedal steel guitar backing. Taylor is the ultimate road warrior and when he is not traveling to gigs across the world he is promoting peace and fighting social and political injustices. “Back On The Road” celebrates this nomadic lifestyle which is his heart and soul as he pursues his passion for low down dirty blues and rock and roll. “Stay With Me” is a ballad for ‘the wild of the night’ where poetry takes flight on another nostalgic journey. The album closes with ”The Heart Of The Ocean,” a love song to the sea which took Sean fifteen years to write. It starts with graceful filigree piano keys and ends with an epic keyboard finale where “Sea and sky are one.”
Sean Taylor is one of the UK’s most influential musicians of his generation and as close as we get to a Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan. Taylor tackles contemporary issues with honesty and integrity, including climate change, austerity, racial inequalities, the refugee crisis and disasters of Grenfell proportions. Above all, Sean offers hope in the pursuit of truth, harmony and love through this collection of songs which pierce the core of humanity whilst evoking a response from the listener.
The album was recorded in London and in Austin, Texas, with producer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Hallman. Video courtesy of Little Rabbit Barn with Mike Seal on double bass.
Sean will be back on the road February-May 2022 to promote The Beat Goes On.
The Heart Of The Ocean
Spirits of the dead
Are buried in the ocean
We feel their sacred warmth
Laced inside the notion
That all that goes
Returns again someday
In the heart of the ocean
Love never dies
It lights the highest star
Over the darkest night
The waves are lit
With the moon’s loving eyes
You are with me tonight
In the heart of the ocean
Gentle evening tides
Twilight along the shore
The coastline sparkles
Our love is reborn
The sound of the waves
The warmth of your soul
In the heart of the ocean
As days turn to years
Time marches on
I can still hear your voice
I can still see your face
The moon pulls the strings of the tide
Just like your heart on to mine
In the heart of the ocean
Sea and sky are one
In the heart of the ocean
Sean Taylor Songs
*Feature image credit: Nick Barber
