Smooth melodies

Smooth melodies

And So It Goes ...
CD by Steve Tilston
Distributed by Flying Fish through Festival

Review by Alex Bainbridge

Steve Tilston is a British folk singer who recently toured parts of Australia. His latest CD, And So It Goes ..., is a warm collection of easy-listening songs. His guitar work is first class, combined with a gentle voice and smooth melodies.

Quite a few of the songs promote a positive view of the world (which could even be interpreted to be acceptance of things as they are). The title track — described as his "most fatalistic song to date" — is typical in this respect.

There is also a recurring theme of interconnectedness between humans and nature. "Soon comes the rain" — a moving and passionate song "with a South American flavour" — is one example.

The most progressive song is "Hideaway", inspired by the discovery that Margaret Thatcher was on the payroll of a large tobacco company. Apparently, Thatcher was responsible for promoting smoking among Third World youth in return for a rather large annual sum.

Tilston manages to draw together a number of themes relating to secrecy among the elite — particularly their mutual efforts to protect their collective plunder.

From GLW issue 298