Album Review: Hermetically Sealed

Doug Robertson is an Auckland-based singer/guitarist, employing his skills to create over an eclectic range of genres, ” from Stoner Rock and Doom Metal to Gypsy Jazz, Indian Classical Music, Bluegrass, Folk, Pop and Blues”. His latest release is Hermetically Sealed, a collection of seven uniquely different tracks.

Starting off with Sinner’s Song, I’d love to know what inspired the distant “Aaaahhh!!” one hears, just before This Week’s Tastiest Guitar Riff kicks in. Doug has a rich, warm voice, which he uses to great effect on the bouncy melody of this swinging piece, elements of Jazz and Bluegrass smokily intertwining to make a thoroughly gorgeous whole. As a lifelong guitar nerd, this song is a true delight, all the more amplified by the slinky, slinky solo towards the end. If this song was a physical object in the world of that greatest of Aussie comedies “The Castle“, it’d be going straight to the Pool Room. As it is, it’s going straight to my ‘Everyday Favourites’ playlist on Spotify. A lively and jaunty opener.

On Wan’t, a clever and thoughtful run of guitar sits atop a sparse cello line before the song proper begins. Ultra-subdued percussion, double bass, and guitar accompany that toasty warm voice, on this piece about parting ways when a relationship has reached its end. Some absolutely beautiful playing on this one, too. Following that is Untitled. Doug’s masterful skill on guitar introduces this fast-paced piece, a defiant exclamation of enjoying one’s place in the greater scheme of things, without kowtowing to external pressures to be otherwise. The musical accompaniment builds gently towards the end, to be signed off vociferously with an angrily yelled “FUCK!!”, in an altogether punk-like fashion.

There’s a more Folky/Trad feel to the start of Run At The Gun, a lilting feel that has a timeless quality, added to by the presence of wonderfully melodic violin playing, and Doug exhibits a sweet falsetto ability towards this piece’s conclusion. The electric guitar hasn’t made its presence felt since the opening track, but on Green Lyin’ it wraps itself up in a tremolo blanket, and joins the acoustic, along with the violin and some subtle effects burbling away in the background of this short instrumental piece. The Gypsy Jazz stylings of Gigolology provide the background for a perhaps tongue-in-cheek story of studying one’s “Degree In Gigolology”, gaining a PhD in being a “ladies’ man”. An optimistic tale that fair flounces along, with its apt musical accompaniment. Again, Doug shows some highly impressive six-string skill that would have Django nodding along with approval.

Final offering Top Of The Moon has a brooding and atmospheric beginning, strings abound, from cello to guitar, before dropping into a laconic bluesy feel. This is a groove that strolls along, a perfect lazy Sunday afternoon song. A slick guitar moment finishes off both the song, and the album, in style.

Doug Robertson has presented a stylish and well produced collection of songs, worth a listen for anyone who enjoys high quality.