Robin Trower
By Mike O’Cull
Boundless British guitar maestro Robin Trower takes us up into the heavens once again on his new album No More Worlds To Conquer. The record comes out April 29th, 2022 on the Provogue/Mascot Label Group imprint and finds the 76-year-old Trower still pushing himself to his limits and beyond.
Trower is still reaching for that next meaningful song, solo, or tone that will ignite his creativity and allow him to move into the future with relevance and grace. He found all that and more while writing this new batch of songs during the pandemic, using his never-fail combination of a Stratocaster into a Marshall amp to play and speak on topics ranging from Alexander The Great to the politics and disappointments of modern life. He carves out distinct guitar tones for each song and uses them to help articulate the emotional phrasing he’s long had a gift for, leaving hypnotic trails in his wake. Trower also played all the bass parts on No More Worlds To Conquer but ceded the vocal mic to Richard Watts, a soulful singer who fits Trower’s songs perfectly, and brought in drummer Chris Taggart, who has appeared on Trower’s last few records, to complete his studio band.
Robin Trower has been a leader in the world of rock guitar since his days with 60s hitmakers Procol Harum. His 1974 smash record Bridge of Sighs put him on the map forever and went on to influence monster artists from Steve Lukather to Opeth. Trower has maintained a steady stream of high-value projects since those stadium-filling days including solo albums, his 80s bands BLT and Truce with Cream bassist Jack Bruce, and modern collaborations with the likes of Livingstone Brown and Maxi Priest. He’s one of the finest players out there and any new music from him is cause for celebration.
The record jumps off with the cracking “Ball Of Fire,” a crunchy, insistent mid-tempo track that is absolutely drenched in gorgeous Strat tones and Richard Watts’ emotive vocals. Trower’s playing has long had some Hendrix to it but he mixes that inspiration with his own lines and feels to arrive at a style that’s transfixing and expressive. He puts it down here like a blues/rock hero fully connected to the source of his flow.
Robin’s title track “No More Worlds To Conquer” was inspired by the story of Alexander The Great and also serves nicely as a summation of Trower’s long and successful career. It’s a sweet slow-burner that lets RT wring everything possible out of each note in an expansive, almost mystical way. Watts’ vocals hang tough with Trower’s tones and his feel is untouchable.
“Waiting For The Rain To Fall” drips with a compelling atmosphere that Trower says was influenced by Tamla Motown. His guitar work on it is clear and lyrical and feels like water falling from the sky. No matter where it came from, it’s one of the strongest cuts presented here and deserves your time and attention. “The Razor’s Edge” and “Cloud Across The Sun” are both overtly political lyrically and Trower presents his views without apology. His guitar screams his messages for him and he seems a bit more fired up than normal on these songs. Listen without judgement and you might find some common ground.
Other bright spots on No More Worlds To Conquer include “Deadly Kiss” and “I Will Always Be Your Shelter.” Trower still has what it takes to glue your ears to your speakers in anticipation of his next phrase and we all should hope he keeps it forever. He’s a spiritual and musical elder of the guitar music scene now but it’s clear he’s continuing to go hard and prove himself all over again. If you want to know what six decades on top of the game sound like, cue this one up, listen, and learn.
Listen to “The Razor’s Edge”
No More Worlds To Conquer pre-order/stream/download HERE
Robin is the best Iv seen him a hand full of times I hope he is coming to orange co Calif soon
Living in ALABAMA…I was fortunate enough to see him play, who did he open up for, Peter Frampton!!! Me and best friend were on the front row and it was tremendous..Of course, I have order the LP.
He is the most humble, kind, and genius Rock Legend. He takes time to meet his fans always after his shows, who else does this? Nobody except the Best under rated Blues Legend of our time, Thankyou Robin❤️
I’ve seen Robin 4 times over the last 30 years. Always a consummate pro. Probably won’t get to see him again, now that I’m in Alaska
Reading Festival 1975. And ever since.
I saw him on his 28th birthday in Portland Oregon at the Paramount Theater. I was down front and my ears still ring from that one. Always loved his music
I wish he would record an updated version of “In Held Twas I” from Shine On Brightly Album
I am ordering this album. From what I’ve heard, it’s brilliant, from beginning to end.
Greatest blues and rock guitar of iur times! Seen him every hear for past twenty years and keeps getting better if that’s possible
Richard Watts ain’t no jimmy dewar … but then who is except Jimmy D . But all in all a very beautiful album . My first vinyl purchase since the 1980s .. whatever was I thinking to leave it this long
Picked up this album the other day, in physical form. I really like tracks 1, 2, 8 and 11.
I was very pleased listening to this new release. Robin Trower is such a fantastically gifted musician and songwriter. It would have been easy just to recycle pieces from the past, but Robin just continues to exceed expectations every time even after having had such a long and lasting imprint on his art. That really says something about the person he is. As usual for him, he captures such amazing emotion in every track.