Stan 'The Man' Cubbison - Breathe... A Family Affair (Album Review)
A successful blend of sensitive charm, sincere conviction, and a timbre with enough story to write a novel
I first met Stan at one of Adam Brodie's (Waste of Paint) acoustic musician nights, unaware of his struggle with chronic lung disease. He has been gigging for four years and from the outside looking in it appears it hasn't apprehended his delivery of folk and blues.
Now in 2020, Stan Cubbison presents his 9 song project with a successful blend of sensitive charm, a well-worn voice, and sincere conviction. Stewart Baxter proves his production chops with a mostly effective outcome (this reviewer only having a few gripes). The acoustic guitar that accompanies Stan's voice is complimentary through and through, the result highlighting that they are both rich and crisp throughout the majority of the project. The real success in production is the decision and polished decoration of the sonic landscape with strings, harmonicas, beautiful harmonies, and a sporadic use keys. Yet, fundamentally, it still remains sparse enough to highlight the most important part of the project: Stan's vocal delivery. For example, when the melody falls into Stan's lower register, the timbre carries enough story to fill a novel and there is little need to paint over it any further with excessive composition.
"Breathe... A Family Affair" is chalked full of covers from a well-composed selection of all-time greats. The tracklist including tracks written by Neil Young, The Eagles, Dire Straights, and Bob Dylan. The latter of that list been Stan's most clear vocal comparison. Only one track that written by Stan himself, this being "Fly", which in my opinion is the highlight of the album, and my desire is this that future projects include more originals tracks because that is where the real magic of his music lies.
"Six Blade Knife" and "After Dark" are the most uptempo tracks on the album, with some strong electric guitar work from Tim O' Connor on track six, both are weighed down nicely by the blues (some foot-tapping is sure to follow). Unfortunately, "After Dark", The Tito and Tarantula tune, is held back by the vocal reverb which both makes the mix feel uneven and claustrophobic, which is not at all representative of the rest of the album's production. Moreover, the bonus track "Driving towards the daylight" feels an unnecessary and inconsistent afterthought on the end of the album, which would be stronger overall as just the eight tracks. All of this being said, there are some really lovely slower and mature moments abundant throughout. Especially in tracks "Señor" and "Learn to be Still". "Willing", "Sara" and "Man Needs a Maid" are also solid editions and pace the project nicely.
Overall, I would say Stewart Baxter's concise production and aid in composition has proved a mostly successful testament to capturing the raw beauty of Stan's delivery. I hope the next project contains more originals. So, join me in spirit and enjoy a neat whiskey in the garden and lose yourself in thought as I listen again.
4.5/5
For fans of: Anyone Stan covers on the album, Waste of Paint, Quicksilver Kings
Check him out on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/4KSTqeXp9lyueTMq3n7n1j
Buy the album on - https://stancubbison.bandcamp.com/album/breathe-a-family-affair
(£1.50 of every sale will go to The Hull Homeless Charity).