Mick and John Head's career is one of the great lost tales of rock 'n' roll history. What with studios burning down, substance addictions and record company bankruptcy, they were always going to struggle to attain stardom. Which is precisely why in their current incarnation Shack are stars to only a select few. Four years after they seemingly vanished, despite the critical acclaim garnered by 'comeback' album 'HMS Fable', the curiously-named 'Here's Tom With The Weather' arrives.
Opener 'As Long As I've Got You' sets things off in fine style with a strident acoustic strum reminiscent of Dylan's 'Tangled Up In Blue'. 'Soldier Man' is lifted by Latino overtones, juxtaposing Mick's melancholy as he laments, "It's the end of the season." 'Byrds Turns To Stone' is a gentle, lilting ode to brotherly love, and strings and piano mournfully but beautifully soundtrack the tale of 'The Girl With The Long Brown Hair'.
'On The Terrace' returns to the Dylan school, with its clipped verses, although the spirit is pure West London with the character being partial to "a little bit of Doris Day". It's actually two songs in one, although the second half struggles to match the streetwise charm of the first. On 'Miles Apart', John Head emerges from the shadow of his brother for a gorgeous, swooning elegy to a "beautiful moment" that recalls prime Nick Drake with its tenacious strings and keening vocals.
'Meant To Be' again adds a dash of Latin flavour, this time courtesy of some horns, to Head's bittersweet melodies. Meanwhile John's 'Carousel' again has the ghost of Nick Drake running through it, although in this case it's obvious that, as well as the blend of acoustic and haunting violin, his voice bears an uncanny similarity to that of the most revered of English singer-songwriters.
The edgy 'On The Streets Tonight' brings in electric guitars for the first time. But 'Chinatown' wears its Hendrix influences a little too obviously, with a solo that's a dead ringer for Jimi's in 'All Along The Watchtower'. John's languorous, plodding 'Camden Road' is also pretty inessential. But the sweet, almost childlike optimism of 'Happy Ever After' ensures the album ends on a high note.
Like their career itself, this is a beguiling and understated gem of an album. They may never sell a million albums but the brothers Head are quietly creating a body of work that will stand as one of the finest of their generation.
