Album Review: Mike Silver: Heaven in Mind (Stockfisch Records CD)

Guitarist Mike Silver is one in an excellent line of song writers / guitarists / vocalists "employed" by Stockfisch Records and for good reason too. Owner Gunter Pauler likes the guitar - any guitar - and you have to search far to find someone who is so at ease with the instrument as Silver is on this album. In fact there is hardly any separation between the artist and the instrument. They are simply made for one another. On his latest release Heaven in Mind very aptly starts with the song Heaven, written after a discussion with his daughter and sets a casual tone for the music to follow. Who wants to be the one and Wrong side of midnight seem to suggest that this is going to be a very laid back album. But it is not and demands your attention, otherwise the brilliance of the performance is lost.

Writing most of the songs on the album, Silver is equally at home covering other music and does an outstanding job with Fly me to the moon, Unchained melody and Love potion No 9. Aided by the quite incredible guitar work of the late Chris Jones, it is especially the cover of the latter song that catapults the album. Listen to the picking or strumming of each string and you realise that producer Gunter Pauler knows how to record the guitar to best demonstrate the remarkable abilities of both the instrument and the players.

While Wrong side of midnight reveals the ugly side of a relationship on the rocks, the next three lift the mood of the album. It is especially Love potion No 9 that things really start happening. Nils Tuxen does an excellent job on the dobro while Jones does magic with the guitar and Silver brings this 1959 hit to life for those who may only ever have heard a casual playing on the radio. I can understand why he says it is "fun to play this song". It really does allow the guitarists the wrench everything from their instruments!

Breaking the silence tells about the anger of life as viewed on a TV program with the same name. Beautiful backing vocals emphasise the chorus: don't stay silent about things that are wrong. Following are Midnight Train, showing a very strong folk / country element; You, a great song featuring violin and viola, where the guitar is put to one side and Silver plays piano; and The dove and the dolphin which shows that there are still many compassionate people in this world who give, rather than ask. One line struck me: We have nothing to gain but the joy of a smile
And the absence of fear in the eyes of a child. Main man's ear is a very funky song with a driving guitar riff and shows that the guitar is capable of producing really low bass! Maybe it's just love conjures images of romantic France when one hears the accordion. Love has a way of finding even those who run away from it.

Waiting in your heart is a song for all those partners are away on business and have a longing to be back home and safe. Tumble of love speaks about hotel rooms and the many occupants they have had. And that loving someone should be fun and permanent.

An interesting aspect that I have noticed on many of the Stockfisch albums, is the availability of information on keys and tuning which must be most welcome for aspiring guitarists who want to learn to play the songs. It is attention to small details like these that sets Stockfisch Records apart from record companies for the masses that are purely intent on selling music irrespective of how it sounds.

At an age where most people are contemplating retirement, Mike Silver seems to be enjoying every minute of life. And why not? More information about Mike Silver is available on his web site www.mikesilver.co.uk.