Insensitive Songwriter
(Mark Nevin, '99)
Raresongs Recordings, markned1 (UK)

Tracks
1. Have A Go Hero
2. Blue Rose
3. Simple Faith
4. Impossible Eyes
5. What the Hell is Going On?
6. Queen of Angels
7. Heatwave in a Ghost Town
8. Home
9. You Don't Have to Make Me Laugh
10. Thank You Goodnight

Credits
(Songwriter)
1, 3, 6, 9. Mark Nevin
2. Mark Nevin and James Hallawell
4. Mark Nevin/Bob Dipero/Graeme Duffin
5. Mark Nevin/Rebecca Martin/Graeme Duffin
7. Mark Nevin and Deborah Mollison
8. Mark Nevin and Edward Shearmur
10. Mark Nevin/Joey Tempest/Jenny Jones
(Producer)
All except 6: Mark Nevin
6. Stephen Lipson

Notes
Released on June 28, '99 in the UK (Oct. 29 in Japan too) after ten years since thier first Japan tour (or should I say the breakup), this is the first solo effort by the leader and the songwriter of Fairground Attraction. Now he is Mark Nevin, setting up his own label Raresong Recordings to release this album.

This may not be a joyful album to listen to as some songs by Fairground Attraction did. The lyrics are different from what he used to write back in FA or Sweetmouth days.. Of course there is no Eddi or Brian singing here. But this is Mark Nevin himself, learning lessons of life, starting to speak in his own words with his own voice.

You may relate to Bob Dylan from his singing. He sings slowly cherishing every word. He may not be able to sing like Eddi who can express anything she wants to deliver. But who else can? Sometimes he gets out of pace, sometimes he may sound too emotinal. But this is his first try at singing publicly. I am glad to have him back on his feet and make songs for himself.

The music is mostly simple played by quartet, but vibraphone by Roger Beaujolais adds spice and makes it lighter. The words are not intended to be stories about first person like FA songs, rather stories spoken to second person.

Some songs may sound like Fairground Attraction though. With vibraphone, Have A Go Hero reminds me of A Smile in A Whisper. Impossible Eyes is his typical love song. Heatwave in A Ghost Town deals with similar topic to Comedy Waltz. With female back vocals, Queen of Angels feels a little brighter than other tracks and it would be the most accessible of all.

Overall this is not a love-at-first-listen type of music, but rather the music that will grow in your heart and make you feel at ease.

According to the credit, the band consists of the following personnel:
Mark Nevin - Vocals, Guitars
Roger Beaujolais - Vibraphone
Roy Dodds - Drum
Julian Crampton - Bass

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