Men who know the value of both cliche and a good contradiction, Brixton renegades ALABAMA 3 continue to ricochet wildly between death and glory. Their so-so recent album "Outlaw" was obsessed with lesser known BRITISH outlaws (notably Great Train Robber Bruce Richard Reynolds) and swung from the well-trodden to the inspired. Which, I guess, befits a band co-fronted by the son of a Glaswegian Trotskyite (D.Wayne Love) and a born-again Welsh Elvis lover (Larry Love).
"The Gospel Train", though, was and remains the album's one truly sublime moment. OK, I admit perhaps I'm being swayed by events such as the hurricanes hitting the southern States and the recent earthquake in Pakistan, but the idea of somebody brewing up such a heady cocktail of apocalyptic country-blues right now - and doing it so well - seems acutely apt.
And so it goes with "The Gospel Train", which is basically what it says on the tin. It's full of the A3'S usual gravelly narrative, Larry and D.Wayne interlocking almost supernaturally and the band bringing on a surprisingly gentle acoustic flavour which suits the redemptive nature of this vivid, vivid song. "Mountains tumblin' into the sea/ Faultlines open up so deep you can hear the devil breathe", drawls D.Wayne, before Larry retorts with that "You'd better pray sister...everybody needs saving" chorus that's bang on the money.
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OK, so I confess you're hardly liable to get this here cynic donning a cassock down the local baptist hall as a result of this delicious four minutes or so, but that's not the point. What matters is that, after spending significant portions of their recent album sounding like they're selling snake oil, Alabama 3 have returned with surely their most poignant moment to date. "The Gospel Train" is the real deal, so buy your ticket with confidence and pride.
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