Donald Cumming “Out Calls Only”

The name Donald Cumming may not immediately be familiar to you. However, we are sure that you will remember his previous band, The Virgins. They were a great band who sadly were swept up in a wave of publicity only to be shamefully dumped soon after. Thankfully, Donald is now back, probably older and wiser, with the release of his debut solo album, “Out Calls Only”.

Opener “Game Of The Heart” will be instantly greeted with a huge cheer by the fans of his old band. It has the same laid back, ultra-cool sound. It has an eighties feel but also mixed with a cooler Elvis Costello vibe. That eighties feel is employed even further by the sax present on the equally jolly “Sometimes Sweet Susan”

There is, however, a slightly more world weary sense to many of the songs on this album. “In The Early Hours” is a more down beat number with a simple and subdued, almost Dylan style approach. Whilst “Workin’ It Out” and “Break The Seal” are reflective of the pensive, cigarette holding picture of Donald that is on the album’s front cover.

We are back to a lighter feel, musically, on “Lonesome For You” which carries the guitar lines and pop beat that The Virgins did so well. On the whole though, it would seem that songs like “Total Darkness” have written with the deliberate intention of giving more weight and credence to Donald’s work. Perhaps there is the sense that previously it all got lost amongst the gloss and shine. In total contrast, this album ends with “Spanish Horses” which is the type of ballad that you would expect to be performed in a Parisian, cellar wine bar.

Overall, we have an album that will probably take many of The Virgins fans along for the ride, but also introduce his undoubted talent to a new audience. That audience will enjoy songs that have the leanings of a more serious artist. However, one who is also not willing to just become bland and lose their sharpness.