The Weblog Of Leonard’s Lair

Keny Butler served as songwriter, guitarist and vocalist in the shoegaze ambient rock band Zen for more than a decade. As a fellow follower of artists on the 4AD label, I didn’t need too much encouragement to comply with Keny’s review request. Not that this is a typically 4AD album, I hasten to add. It embraces progressive rock elements and no little soul.

‘The Waiting Is Over’ benefits from a menacing pulse and Butler’s gradually more distorted vocals. At other times I thought of Peter Gabriel, not just because Butler has a similar voice but also because of the experimental nature of the music. At times it’s hopeful, like on ‘Ordinary Man’ and ‘Escape’, but mainly it veers towards the dark side. Along the way, Butler tries his hand at various genres. ‘Broken Carousel’ is a worthwhile detour in to macabre instrumental waters whilst ‘The Great Demise’ merges proggy guitars with ambient rock and - most bizarrely of all - the final bonus track sounds like a paean to Barry White and Luther Vandross that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the record but is performed with some panache.

Butler’s best moments actually occur on ‘Locusts’, a yearning mid-paced song which is bolstered by a moving string accompaniment and ‘Mountain Mind’; a mysterious and soulful highlight. Butler calls this new venture a “gothic novella” and - despite the low budget - he achieves these grand ambitions with admirable versatility and fine songwriting skills.

Web Sites:
Keny Butler MySpace

Further Listening:
Noise626, Peter Gabriel