PETE AVES - Sweet Are The Uses

æSweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.' (Duke Senior, Act ii, scene i, As You Like It). Pete AvesÆ first album in five years. Following on from 2016Æs acclaimed See How, PeteÆs new album was recorded over afternoons spent in his shed, with a pile of instruments, a microphone and a computer. Those afternoons turned into Sweet Are The Uses, the first sounds on which are birdsong and an approaching train segueing into the acoustic whimsy of æSanity Project.Æ That lonesome whistle got Pete thinking about Merle Haggard, one of whose many quotes paraphrased at the beginning of æMerle HaggardÆs BluesÆ, with Van Morrison showing up in the outro. æMarket ForcesÆ is the tale of a man trapped in a town thatÆs half Springfield, half Trumpton. A man, to quote Donald Fagen, of roughly my age, height and weight. æOne Hit Wonder WhyÆ is ironically referred to as æthe surefire hitÆ in PeteÆs household, featuring his first recorded rap. æFauxk MusickÆ considers the merits of screen-based recreation and having been written in 2017 is notable for its inclusion of the phrase ælocked downÆ some years before it became so ubiquitous. æPlenty More Fish In CÆ sets matters of the aspirational heart to music. ThereÆs a country rock flavour to side oneÆs closer æSermons In StonesÆ before the Allman Brothers get a name check in the blue eyed soul of side twoÆs opener æBandstand.Æ FrÞre Jacques gets a makeover in æThe Cost Of LivingÆ, æAll ToldÆ is a prog/gospel mash up and æTheremin ThereinÆ is a nod to the supporting cast who appear in the credits of every well scripted life. æJill Had A FriendÆ is a true story of everyday clairvoyance, after which a lock-in and a 4am game of chess take us back to the pub in æLess Is More, More Or Less.Æ Pete was very sad to learn of the death of Neil Innes in 2019. They say you shouldnÆt meet your heroes but he got to meet and work with Neil in 2017 and loved every minute of it. They met several times after that and the phrase æmuck and bulletÆ was never far from his lips during accounts of recent events chez Innes. The albumÆs closing æMuck & BulletsÆ is PeteÆs tribute to the great man. Sweet Are The Uses, once again, exemplifies PeteÆs sophisticated musical talent, ear for an unusual melody and literary lyrical wit and warmth at chronicling the human condition. ide from his solo output Pete has played guitar with the High Llamas for many years and worked with Lee Hazlewood, Petula Clark, Nick Lowe, Shirley Collins, The Lost Ladies Of Folk and Harry Hill among others. As a songwriter he has always followed his own path. Praise for PeteÆs previous albums: ****MOJO // ***** Q Magazine // **** Record Collector.

Vinyl release of Pete Aves - Sweet Are The Uses. Released through STRESS TESTED and available on LP.