Welsh guitarist Richard Thomas had to come to terms with four deaths - three in the family and a close friend - so it is no wonder that the blues is the dominant genre on Magic Theatre, the new album by his one-man project Mint Biscuit. Recorded quickly even by his own standards, Thomas offers a mixed bag of instrumentals and tracks with soul-searching lyrics.
If anything, it has made him contemplate his life and count his blessings in the midst of grief. In Uncle Ric-Ric's Blues (For Sprouty) he leads you through his youth, university days and marriage in classic storytelling fashion. It was painful to see his dad getting locked up bit a bit inside his own body (Stiffneck Blues). He managed to find some solace by Gathering Flowers and paying tribute to some of his heroes (no bonus points who inspired to write Wrink Lay. Music is not a cure, but it sure is a way to make one feel a little better when life is handing out blows in quite succession.
Magic Theatre is a self-released album. Buy it from his website.
Tracks:- Another Angel
- Stiffneck Blues
- Uncle Ric-Ric's Blues (For Sprouty)
- Vaporub Blues
- A Country Jaunt
- Laguna Bugera
- Nightshades
- Magic Theatre
- Here's Another Thing
- Gathering Flowers
- Moebius Strip
- Wrink Lay
- Ned's Blues
- Dubrovnik Rooves
- Banging Our Heads (Against The Brick Wall Of Life)
» mintbiscuitsounds.com
