Slice Of Life – Love And A Lamp-post (Overground Records)
Well, what can be said about Steve Ignorant that has already been said? If you’ve been living in a cave for the past 35 years then let me give a brief overview. He sang for Crass, Conflict, Schwartzenegger and Stratford Mercenaries, and now he is tickling our eardrums with “Slice Of Life”. Born from the ash clouds of Chile and playing their first gig in October 2013, this is a full length offering of 9 fantastic, glorious songs.
Lyrically, Steve is a genius, there’s no one better in my opinion and if you just read the words like poems they are meaningful and deep, you just know that everything went in to every word and meant.
The title track starts us off with acoustic guitar and piano playing in harmony, next is “Killing Time” and I thought I was listening to Sham 69 with cock-er-ney talking at the start. As the album moves on, so does the diversity. “You” reminds me of his Crass roots, just talking about politicians and armchair philosophers. As we move through the album which kind of takes you on a journey with a lovely trumpet sound on “Here I Stand”, upright Bass on most of the songs to the sometimes haunting yet beautiful piano. The album ends with the excellent song “Slice Of Life” with moving lyrics: “Life kicks in as the sun drips down and shadows flick the knives, over concrete wastelands strewn with glass-someone’s paid the price” and then poignantly ends with “And life kicks in and survival begins, through the veil of your tears, Oh just scream today, I’m Alive, I’m Alive, I’m Alive!!”
There are not many people who can write words like this but thank goodness for Mr Steve Ignorant, please take a bow, sir, you have inspired thousands of people over the years with your verse and long may it continue 10 out of 10 from me. Paul Hoddy