With its ecstatic chorus resembling ‘Crimson and Clover’ by Tommy James & the Shondells, ‘Alien’ is a charming account of stalking an object of desire. “I see you cry, see you trying to boil an egg, see you desperately alone, see you out with other men”. While not necessarily a crooner, Adamczewski is an articulate storyteller. “I was born to be your lover, I was born to be your man,” he intones.
A Man For All Seasons appears to be a concept album that might evoke The Love Cycle by Forever Amber, especially in the minds of those familiar with obscure 1960s psychedelia. The late 60s allure pervades the album, perhaps owing to the fact that it was recorded at Ray Davies’s Konk Studios in Hornsey. The Kinks built this facility following the success of their Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One.
Founded in 2015, Insecure Men has been a channel for Saul Adamczewski’s softer and more melodic material, in contrast to the eclectic and genre-bending Fat White Family. This veil of a romantic relationship album, nevertheless, hides a darker experience of living in a claustrophobic property in South London, dealing with opioid addiction and mental health issues. Named after Fred Zinnemann’s film about the final years of Sir Thomas More’s life, A Man For All Seasons sees Adamczewski similarly adapting to different life situations. Breaking through this turbulence, the artist stays true to his creative vision.
The South London haze is somewhat conjured up by the Rhythm and Sound-esque intro on ‘Butter’. Specific references map out romantic ventures across the area – take ‘Tulse Hill Station’. Adamczewski was trying to survive on fentanyl in a flat located in the Lambeth district before making his way to his mother’s home in South East London. Learning the backstory, one wonders how such a warm-hued record could have emerged out of despair. What starts as a soft-spoken ballad, ‘Time is a Healer’ gives away to a crepuscular trip hop vibe, alluding to ‘Pumpkin’, one of the gems from Tricky’s Maxinquaye. Although some darkness is present, A Man For All Seasons delivers a sense of hope. The album’s charm is in its vulnerability.
