ROBIN TROWER – No More Worlds To Conquer (2022)
The iconic ROBIN TROWER will be releasing his new studio album, ‘No More Worlds To Conquer,’ on April 29th. Few would dispute that the title of Trower’s latest album – ‘No More Worlds To Conquer’ – is a fair summary of the thumbprint he has left on the musical universe. But as he reminds us, it should not be misinterpreted as his mission being accomplished. “I definitely feel like I’m still reaching,” he considers, “with the guitar, and the songs, and everything else.”
Robin Trower has been a leader in the world of rock guitar since his days with 60s hitmakers Procol Harum. His 1974 smash record Bridge of Sighs put him on the map forever and went on to influence monster artists from Steve Lukather to Opeth.
Trower has maintained a steady stream of high-value projects since those stadium-filling days including solo albums, his 80s bands BLT and Truce with Cream bassist Jack Bruce, and modern collaborations with the likes of Livingstone Brown and Maxi Priest. He’s one of the finest players out there and any new music from him is cause for celebration.
”No More Worlds To Conquer” finds the 76-year-old Trower still pushing himself to his limits and beyond. The new collection of songs are bluesy at heart but rocks with more fire than many self-claimers ‘saviors of rock n’ roll’ out there.
Once again, Trower also handles bass duties, but as a lifelong servant of the song over his own ego, he didn’t hesitate to enlist other musicians. “Livingstone Brown played bass on three tracks, and Chris Taggart is on drums,” he explains. “He’s a wonderful drummer, and he’s done the last three or four albums.
And I started to realize, after I’d tried to sing these songs myself, that I wasn’t vocally up to it. Richard Watts has done a great job on vocals. He’s got a fantastic instrument – such a soulful singer – and he’s willing to get it exactly how I’m hearing it in my head. The other great thing about having Richard is that there’s quite a few songs on this album that I wouldn’t be able to play and sing live at the same time.”
Despite his age, Trower is still reaching for that next meaningful song, solo, or tone that will ignite his creativity and allow him to move into the future with relevance and grace. He found all that and more while writing this new batch of songs during the pandemic, using his never-fail combination of a Stratocaster into a Marshall amp to play and speak on topics ranging from Alexander The Great to the politics and disappointments of modern life.
He carves out distinct guitar tones for each song and uses them to help articulate the emotional phrasing he’s long had a gift for, leaving hypnotic trails in his wake.
The record jumps off with the cracking “Ball Of Fire,” a crunchy, insistent mid-tempo track that is absolutely drenched in gorgeous Strat tones and Richard Watts’ emotive vocals. Trower’s playing has long had some Hendrix to it but he mixes that inspiration with his own lines and feels to arrive at a style that’s transfixing and expressive. He puts it down here like a blues/rock hero fully connected to the source of his flow.
Robin’s title track “No More Worlds To Conquer” was inspired by the story of Alexander The Great and also serves nicely as a summation of Trower’s long and successful career. It’s a sweet slow-burner that lets RT wring everything possible out of each note in an expansive, almost mystical way. Watts’ vocals hang tough with Trower’s tones and his feel is untouchable.
“Waiting For The Rain To Fall” drips with a compelling atmosphere that Trower says was influenced by Tamla Motown. His guitar work on it is clear and lyrical and feels like water falling from the sky. No matter where it came from, it’s one of the strongest cuts presented here and deserves your time and attention.
“The Razor’s Edge” and “Cloud Across The Sun” are both overtly political lyrically and Trower presents his views without apology. His guitar screams his messages for him and he seems a bit more fired up than normal on these songs. Listen without judgement and you might find some common ground.
Other bright spots on No More Worlds To Conquer include “Deadly Kiss” and “I Will Always Be Your Shelter.” Trower still has what it takes to glue your ears to your speakers in anticipation of his next phrase and we all should hope he keeps it forever.
He’s a spiritual and musical elder of the guitar music scene now but it’s clear he’s continuing to go hard and prove himself all over again. If you want to know what six decades on top of the game sound like, cue this one up, listen, and learn.
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – Ball of Fire
02 – No More Worlds to Conquer
03 – Deadly Kiss
04 – Birdsong
05 – Losing You
06 – Waiting for the Rain to Fall
07 – Wither on the Vine
08 – Cloud Across the Sun
09 – Fire to Ashes
10 – The Razor’s Edge
11 – I Will Always be Your Shelter
Richard Watts – lead vocals
Robin Trower – guitars, bass, vocals
Livingstone Brown – bass
Chris Taggart – drums
Pre order:
www.amazon.com/More-Worlds-Conquer-Robin-Trower/dp/B09SP39L98
