Ray Wilson - Stiltskin Live

Ex-Genesis singer returns to his roots

The 16 tracks served up by Ray Wilson and his quartet of backing players cover the gamut of Stiltskin’s work over the last decade and more. Only their No 1, Inside, stands proud as a latterday rock standard, its superb riff marking it out as much as Wilson’s creditable vocals. Elsewhere he turns his hand to Nick Cave-style brooding, as on opener Sunshine & Butterflies, or a Cobain-like rasp on Sarah. That lack of cohesion might jar the uninitiated, as the band shift from Chris Rea-style smoky blues (Gypsy), to Floydian chorale (Taking Time) and gothic rock (She). It’s all delivered in proficient fashion, with Some Of All My Fears and others adopting an urgency akin to Thin Lizzy. But little else stands out, making for an agreeable but never revelatory set.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

SPV | 79642

Reviewed by Tim Jones
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