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Walter Becker - Circus Money
Fagen’s foil in fine solo fettle
On only his second solo album in 14 years, Becker hasn’t moved far from the pristine intricacy of the Steely Dan sound. Swathes of Circus Money wouldn’t sound out of place on the Dan’s Aja or Gaucho, especially the tracks where Walter’s faltering voice is beefed up by female backing singers. In fact, all that’s missing is the articulate clarity of Donald Fagen’s vocals, which would have brought a more atmospheric hue to typically Dan-like conversational narrations of Hollywood greed (Three Picture Deal), East Coast isolation (Downtown Canon) and enigmatic women (Paging Audrey). As one might expect, there are rich seams of humour and clever wordplay throughout, especially on the ode to arrogant bastards, Selfish Gene.
The instrumentation may sound too clinical to some ears, but it’s a long-standing hallmark of Becker’s attention to detail, where every single sweep of a wire brush across a drum skin ultimately serves a purpose. He’s oh-so smart but still allows himself an occasional smirk.
Sonic 360 | tbc
Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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