Four Winds

Running Time: 34.20
Release date: 18th May 2009
Date first charted: 30th May 2009
Highest UK chart position: 67
Weeks on chart: 2
Label: Universal
Catalogue number: 2700799
Formats: CD, download

Personnel credits:
– Ian Broudie: guitars, vocals
– James Skelly: guitars, backing vocals
– Ian Skelly: drums
– Paul Duffy: guitars
– Nick Power: keyboards
– Lee Southall: bass
– Raife Burchall: drums
– Scott Marmion: backing vocals
– Sophie Paterson: backing vocals

Produced by Ian Broudie
String and woodwind arrangements by Simon Rogers
Mixed by Dave Bascombe and Stephen Harris

Running order and writing credits:

1. 4 Winds (Ian Broudie)
2. Things Just Happened (Ian Broudie)
3. Ghosts (Ian Broudie / James Skelly)
4. Said And Done (Ian Broudie)
5. Don’t Walk On By (Ian Broudie)
6. The Story Goes (Ian Broudie / J. Mullen)
7. On A Day Like This (Ian Broudie / James Skelly)
8. All I Do (Ian Broudie)
9. I’ll Be Around (Ian Broudie)
10. I Still Feel The Same (Ian Broudie / Mark Cullen)

My Notes:
The first album to bear the Lightning Seeds name in ten years, and it’s one I really like. But it’s not really a Lightning Seeds album, it’s more an Ian Broudie solo album and follow up to Tales Told. Indeed, that’s what it was supposed to have been until the record company interfered and insisted it be released under the Lightning Seeds “brand”. It’s all to do with marketing and sales, and as such Ian has pretty much disowned this album as a Lightning Seeds release.

It’s a shame as there are some absolute gems on this album. The lead single, “Ghosts”, sounds like a classic Broudie / Lightning Seeds song. Layered harmonies, a Beach Boys vibe and the rhythm guitar has shades of Getting Better by the Beatles. I absolutely love it. The second single “Don’t Walk On By” could actually sit on earlier Lightning Seeds albums quite happily. The title song is heartbreaking, and you can hear and feel the heartache in this love letter to Ian’s brother Rob who tragically took his own life. When you get those blues…

A tour went ahead to promote the album and a promotional video was made for Ghosts. Don’t Walk On By had no video at all but was remixed for the single release and you can hear the Radio Mix below if you’ve got Spotify. No physical releases for either of the singles, they were radio and download / stream only as is the way of the world these days. I seem to remember Don’t Walk On By got a fair amount of Radio 2 airplay as when it was released.

Does Four Winds deserve to be disowned? Yes and no. I’ll deal with the yes first, and bear with me on this. Aside from a few moments that hark back, it’s not really a Lightning Seeds album in mood. It’s a fairly downbeat affair and has similar production and instrumentation as Tales Told. It would be better suited to wear “Ian Broudie” on the cover and be treated as a follow up to Tales Told. And no it doesn’t deserve to be disowned because it’s a brilliant album and I like it immensely.