Simplicity can be a wonderful thing when it works, and the music in Gabriel James' In the Hands of Fools proves that point. There are only four other musicians whose talents are used on the CD, and they keep the music feeling real.

There is a bit of static running through "Button Down," but the words shape it into an ever swirling wind. The music of "In the Hands of Fools" is broad and wide open, and it helps keep the mood of the song cheerful. The music becomes tighter in "Keep on Driving" as the words follow a line along the road.

Sometimes everything just changes, and "Maybe" addresses one of those times; the rough edges of James' vocals can take a moment to get used as it starts off sounding more spoken then sung.

The trumpet emphasizes the jazzy feel of "Neon Marquee" and the delivery of the lyrics brings that feel home. A dream forms the words of "Capture the Flag" while the music and tone fill it keep it warm, full of hope. The scratchy edge to his vocals in "Swing" brings out the sorrow, the sense that things are not quite right anymore. "Or so You Say" lies somewhere between the two previous songs in mood, while the music builds in a progression that continues into "Pretend." With the first words the mood shifts back to just before the end.

"Nine Lovely Digits" dances around the blame game, the rasp in his voice and the blurred edges of the music creating a murky, sticky feel to the song. The trumpet swings the mood for "Unto Me" as the words leave you looking for answers and knowing they can be found. "Center" is a song about the song, music and life. It is one of the songs where you know what it's saying is true, and it is so very good.

The biggest complaint I have about In the Hands of Fools is that the lyrics are hard to read in the liner notes. And that is really not much of a fault, I just like being able to read lyrics that intrigue me on hearing them.

by Paul de Bruijn
Rambles.NET
24 March 2007

[ visit the artist's website ]