Rico Bell – The Return of Rico Bell

Rico Bell is a Mekon and you want to collect them all, right? You may also want this record for the trademark space-age victrola raspiness of a David Trumfio production. Or to hear what may be the least known most respected rhythm section in Chicago, David Trumfio on bass and Harry Trumfio on drums and percussion. Or for Mark Durantes pedal steel playing, informed by his stints with, for instance, KMFDM and the Slammin Watusis.

Youll want to hear what might be the Mekon Welshman Jon Langfords telltale lilt with a lyric in the six co-penned originals pretty turns of phrase like cold hard winter put the lid on too tight … the earth sheds another layer of skin on Whirlaway, and The apple fell and ripened where it lay / A love so beautiful now in decay on Devils Dream.

You have to add this cover of Dark End of the Street to your collection, a Gram Parsons-esque arrangement in which Bells phrasing reflects resignation to the lyrics sordidness where the much younger Parsons sang the pain and Linda Ronstadt the tragedy. Maybe mostly youll want to have the Cajun meringue-like take on I Am A Lonesome Fugitive, copped not from Merle Haggard but from the arrangement in French by Belton Richard. Bells accordion shows the path to a long-overdue alt-country exploration of Cajun music.

The refrain of the opening song On the Streets will play on your mind for days: Shouldnt I be holding you now? And the Sabalon Glitz-y quote describing the planet swinging round is a droll anachronism in Whirlaway. the story of one of those couples you always see at the run-down neighborhood bar.

Bells sometimes precarious grip on the melody occasionally gives this record the feel of a Los Lobos song featuring Shane McGowan. But you have to let it grow on you, because now and then its nice to have a grownup around, even as a cautionary tale.