This is a solo album in the strictest sense of the word -- just
Terry Clarke and his 12-string guitar, recorded quickly and inexpensively. The songs were mostly written while
Clarke was on the road, and most have to do with the English seaside region where he spent part of his childhood -- the album's title,
Mother Indigo, refers to the ocean. Extremely personal solo albums rarely translate into complete artistic success, and this one is no exception to that rule. While "Ballysadare Bay" and "Walk with Me" are both fairly tuneful, pretty much everything else falls flat -- lots of highly self-referential lyrics sung to the vaguest of melodies over an energetically strummed guitar. This approach works well on the spare and bitter "Who's Your Lover Now?," but few of the themes
Clarke develops will be universal enough to engage the interest of most listeners. "Bruce Channel in this Town" is an excellent example: if you don't already know who
Bruce Channel is, you won't find much in the song to pique your interest. "Walk with Me" succeeds because it consists of a straightforward and disciplined chord progression linked to lyrics that speak to the listener rather than to the singer -- it's an approach
Clarke should have stuck with.