An artist can often be measured by their integrity to their craft. Authenticity and sincerity of intent go a long way when it comes to the often daunting task in the world of artists to give meaning and appeal to the cause at hand. Lord Baldwin's music is always true to that code, the Olympia bard never backs down from life's challenges, not in his personal life, and not in his music. The double album of 2018, " Nevertheless " is a finely crafted example of Chester's commitment to growth and honest soul searching. The first CD has 18 songs, and there are three classics mixed in with the new material that stand out like bright stars : his love ballad for his wife Diane, " She loves me anyway ", which is a profoundly touching song about Diane's lifelong devotion to her husband Chester, that always moves me to the marrow; the sparkling song " Blue with a broken heart ", that is just brimming with determination in spite of the heartache the lyrics make clear; and " Heart of the family ", about the safety of family amidst the turmoil of life. These 3 songs are the stars the other songs of the first CD are spreading from, like paths and rivers, exploring new horizons, new possibilities. It is a crafty and effective way to communicate new longings, hopes, doubts and energies on the part of the artist. It is a subtle, reflective set of songs, that remind me of a water colour painting, and that take you to a quiet, healing place.
The second CD continues in that vein of quiet intro- spection, free of pretense, anxiety, it is the continuation of a very personal journey, that makes a sincere effort to connect to the outside world, while refusing to sacrifice the need to re- define the artist's place not just within the world, but within his own view of himself within that world. It is a very nuanced set of songs, that has two songs that just like the first CD has its 3 sparkling stars that highlight the way, lead the listener to the place where Chester wants to meet them on this walkway of life. The song " A frog calling you ", is a delightfully mischievous love song, full of youth and passion, and also innocence and nostalgia. The song " Halfway in, and halfway out " is a profound, sincere assessment of life's duplicities and confounding dilemmas, a very honest song, that is a great way to finish this quietly challenging double album. The last song is a beautiful instrumental piece, " Riding solar winds to Triton ", which underlines Chester's impressive musical skills, and that also summarizes in a very effective and beautiful way the subtle tones of " Nevertheless ", that like ripples on water, make us take a second look, to make sure we appreciated all the nuances in the music, the lyrics, the emotions and the ideas. Lord Baldwin's music never disappoints, whether it is a driven, energetic, fast paced whirlwind of an album that travels to the future and back, and questions modern man's motivations and ambitions, or whether it is a purely lyrical album, or whether it is an upbeat album that gives us a boost of optimism, or whether like " Nevertheless " it is an album that invites us to go for a quiet walk along side the songs of the bard, a healing walk that leaves us wanting to do some of our own honest soul searching as well.
Trudi Ralston
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