Robin Trower Releases “Razor’s Edge” New Single from ‘No More Worlds To Conquer’

Photo: Robin Trower by Rob Blackham

The iconic guitarist Robin Trower releases the second single “Razor’s Edge” from his forthcoming studio album ‘No More Worlds To Conquer’ out April 29th via Provogue/Mascot Label Group.

Featuring what Trower calls “some of my favorite guitar work I’ve played on a recording in a long time,” “The Razor’s Edge” finds the guitarist shining a light on the failure of world leaders today. “’The Razor’s Edge’ and ‘Cloud Across The Sun,’” Trower comments, “those are definitely about my dissatisfaction with the politicians of the day – pointing the finger at the ones that don’t keep their promises.”

“The Razor’s Edge” is timeless Trower, delivering blistering licks that contain both melodic soul and jagged tension. His trademark Strat tones are in full effect, painting the air a thousand shades of blue. Trower’s lyrics are a socially conscious callout of all the world leaders who have failed their people and he sings his truth without flinching. Elders in any genre often struggle to create relevant material in the later chapters of their careers but Trower is right on time with this one. He remains vital and alive and blues/rock fans will be happy to know that he still has much left to give.

Listen to “Razor’s Edge”

Few would dispute that the title of Robin 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.”

For more than six decades, Robin Trower’s career has known no bounds. At the age of 76, the British guitarist can reflect on a journey in which he has planted flags across the musical sphere and played every role imaginable. He’s been the driving force behind Sixties icons Procol Harum. The transatlantic solo star who filled US stadiums with 1974’s Bridge Of Sighs. The collaborator and occasional supergroup member. The elder-statesman songwriter whose late period still crackles with invention.

Featuring vocals and bass from the late Jim Dewar – along with jaw-dropping guitar work from Trower that has influenced everyone from Steve Lukather to Opeth – the US-gold-selling ‘Bridge Of Sighs’ is perhaps his flagship album.

“With every album, it’s the best I can do at that particular time. I think that’s what it’s about. I set myself goals and each song has to live up to them,” Trower reflects.

“What usually happens is that I’m playing the guitar for fun and an idea will suddenly appear,” Trower continues. “Then you’re looking for a lyric that grows out of the music and enhances the mood. it’s lovely when you’ve gone right the way through from the beginning of the first little guitar idea that grows into a song and eventually you get a track down and finished – and it’s something like how you heard it in your head.”

Turning once again to his trusty toolkit of Fender Stratocaster and Marshall amp, Trower’s guitar work is ageless, whether that’s the tough chop of “Ball Of Fire,” “Losing You and Cloud Across The Sun,” or the slower-burn wah squalls of the title track and “Deadly Kiss.” “Each track has to work as a sound,” he says, “as well as music and everything else. I’m very particular over guitar tones. I drive people mad, but in the end, it’s worth all the aggravation.”

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.”