So, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill has passed through the Commons and now goes on the House of Lords for further consideration. Step by step, we're moving forward to more a equal, a more civil society.
It's not over yet - and the bill is not perfect, even before it's trip to the Lords - but this Government is making progress towards establishing Equal Marriage as a lasting social legacy of the 2010-15 Parliament.
Many thanks are due to Lynne Featherstone for pushing this onto the Government's Agenda. For all Labour's self-congratulatory tweeting tonight, this would never have been before the Commons without Liberal Democrats in Government. (The divisions in the Conservative Party on the topic would have precluded a sole Tory administration taking it on.)
So much done, much still to do; although some of the associated issues - Heterosexual Civil Partnerships, recognition of Humanist Marriages, equality for Trans- people - may be easier to address outside the context of this bill, once rumours of the collapse of civilisation have been proved to be wholly wrong*.
Anyway, I didn't think I was going to get as many words out as this - and instead had prepared a video. So now you get both a blogpost and some music to enjoy. Here's The Proclaimers with Let's Get Married. Look out for the line which (unwittingly) answers those critics who ask why Gay people would want to get Married when they can get Civilly Partnered:
"Yeah, it's just a piece of paper but it says I love you..."
Andrew
* That's not to say I don't want all those things, or that I don't still want them in this Bill, more a recognition that the way things have gone we need to be thankful for what we have, and continue the fight for the things we don't yet.
First, an apology: This review was intended to be the climax of my "A Journey Through Texas" series, which sadly fell by the wayside a bit whilst I was otherwise engaged in March and April. As a result, it lacks the context I had hoped it would have. I have, though, opted to retain the track-by-track style of the entries I made for Southside and Mother's Heaven - and I still intend to complete posts for all the other albums...
The album kicks of with the title track and lead single. In many respects it is reminiscent of the Texas of Southside, complete with twangy country guitars, albeit with more melody and polish. I must confess that I wasn't overly sure of it to start (I felt the chorus sounded like it could have been done by The Sugababes!) but it has definitely grown on me over the weeks and months.
The next track - Dry Your Eyes - also captures a conversation, this time between friends having a heart to heart in emotionally raw circumstances. It's a beautiful number, with a simple melody, pared down acoustic sound and clear narrative.
Like many of the tracks on the album, it's a slight song; of the twelve tracks, half are under 3 minutes long, and the longest is 3 minutes 43 seconds. Like the songwriters of the sixties (whose influence can be heard at times), the band don't go in for over-long instrumentals or extended repeated choruses.
If This Isn't Real, returns to the theme of The Conversation - and the recurring theme of the album - the second guessing of a partner's insecurities. A simple (that word again) drum-based accompaniment, layered with keyboards and guitars is the backing for Sharleen Spiteri's rich and soulful vocal.
The next track (Detroit City) moves the tempo up again - it's the most rocky track on the album and Spiteri's voice adapts accordingly. It's rollickingly good fun, and a real foot stomper; come the tour in November, it'll be a real crowd pleaser.
I Will Always, by contrast, put me in mind of the Everly Brothers number - a low key, melodic paean to eternal love. Again, Spiteri's chameleon like voice adapts - dropping a register for a sultry, harmonic vocal.
Talk About Love reminds me of the Texas of White on Blond or The Hush - but with a Southside style and sound with heavy guitars and a heavy beat. Texas' sound may change but on every album there are examples of the DNA of the band shining through. There is something about the frantic pace of the song which gets under the skin of subject of much of the album: the frustration of being a relationship with someone incapable of expressing their feelings.
The Texas DNA is obvious again on Hid From The Light which feels - to me at least - a bit like a reworking of Halo. But whilst in Halo we really do adore the object of our affection - here all who love her will despair. It's destined to become a fan favourite!
Be True has a sixties sound reminiscent in parts of the Supremes. So much so, it could easily have been a track on Spiteri's solo album, Melody, which was heavily influenced by Motown. Always Forever (Maybe I) moves the tempo down again with a pared back, dream-like vocal against a minimal backdrop.
Spiteri appears to channel to the voice of The Pretender's Chrissie Hynde on Hearts Are Made To Stray - and indeed the song itself reminds be I'll Stand By You.
At the gigs that launched the album, the band did a version of River Deep, Mountain High (which Spiteri had deployed to great effect on her solo tour in 2009). Big World is, in part, reminiscent of another Tina Turner hit, Proud Mary with more than a knowing wink in that direction. It's an upbeat number about doing what's right for yourself when you can't get through to your partner.
The album rounds off with I Need Time - a torch song with a stripped back track, country guitars and bluesy vocals. It's a slight downbeat ending to the album, which is in keeping I think with the subject matter. It's also an understated ending, encouraging you back to listen again rather than sending you off on your way humming the last track!
The Conversation is an album that's unlike any other Texas album: more melodic than Southside, more upbeat than Mothers Heaven and Ricks Road, more guitar-led than White on Blond and The Hush, more authentic than Careful What You Wish For and more down to earth than The Red Book. The consistent factor - as ever - is Spiteri's voice and lyrics.
Although they've never been afraid to experiment with differing musical directions, sometimes this has led to contrivances - the most obvious example being 2003's Careful What You Wish For. The Conversation marks another change of direction - but this feels more like a band doing what it wants, rather than trying to be cool or populist. Texas are back - but on their terms.
I'd be foolish to pretend the album was perfect. Indeed, I have to confess to being disappointed that there isn't more breadth of substance to the tracks, many of which tackle the same subject in only slightly differing fashion. As with all of Spiteri's work, it's clearly highly personal and appears to be the product of a frustrating relationship.
It's not an album that's going to set the critics world on fire. It's not going to bring a new generation of fans to the band in the way that White on Blond did. But it's an accomplished album from the band content to follow their own path. It's an album that showcases Spiteri's voice and resists the over-production of previous albums, and, from a fan's point of view, it's a very welcome return after an extended hiatus.
It's Pentecost, so today's Sunday Sounds are on fire*
First, Kasabian, with Fire:
and now, Kings of Leon with Sex on Fire, which I have posted before - no apologies for reposting, though!:
Andrew *Acts 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [NIV]
It's Saturday, so here's another six blogposts and articles that I've seen and thought worthy of some note over the past week:
First up, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a report into attitudes to poverty and welfare. The Guardian reports that this suggests that attitudes towards those who claim state support are hardening amongst Labour supporters. Over on Lib Dem Voice, Stephen Tall looks at how the figures breakdown across the political spectrum.
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill returns to the commons this week, with news that the Government is not in favour of using the Bill to allow Humanists to conduct legally recognised marriages. The British Humanist Association reports on the issue here - and the efforts by 7 MPs (including Bristol West's Stephen Williams) to amend the bill.
Unfortunately, there are a number of other amendments to the bill and some are not nearly so helpful. Caron Lindsay reports on Lib Dem Voice that free votes are to be given to our MPs - although there are some that even those against the bill should not even countenance voting for.
Regular readers will know I love me a bit of Texas - whose new album comes out on Monday and whom I have ticket to see in November. Last week they performed a couple of gigs as party of the promotion of the new album - here's a review of the Glasgow gig at legendary venue, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. They also did a turn on BBC2's Later... with three songs from the album, and Spiteri and Holland covering "How Sweet It Is" - it's worth looking it up on iPlayer.
Finally, my friend Jo relates the latest details of her next charity dining event... The Stars and Stripes Supper Club. Having been one of those at the Pulled Pork tasting, I'm looking forward to it more than ever now.
