SINGLE REVIEW: JULIAN TAYLOR - HUNGER

Anyone that has dipped into either of Julian Taylor's "Anthology" collections cannot help but be swept away not only by the sheer spread of musical genres contained within, but the fact that whichever one he approaches he does with aplomb and authenticity. It is something that he does with "Hunger" the opening track of "Anthology 2" which sees Julian set sail for Celtic waters.

Written by Graham Williamson the opening has a definite Gaelic feel, with Julian's phrasing only enhancing that feeling more.

The song sees Hunger as a malevolent entity and details its hold over the people who have the least.

"It flew out of the sunrise, like a shadow on the day

And it hovered, in the clear sky, like a bird of prey

Took the baby from the cradle, stole the blankets from the bed

And it sat down at their table

Drank their water, ate their bread"

The chorus has a definite communal feel to it, and a female voice joins Julian.

"Hunger Hunger, it's like rolling thunder

How much longer must we feel this hunger?"

The subject matter is sadly timeless and the song, could apply back to the Irish potato famine, through the famines of Ethiopia or the current situation in any number of hot spots around the world currently from Gaza to South Sudan, let alone more uncomfortably in the streets of the UK and US where food banks are under ever increasing strain.

Written in the 80's, yet it sounds like it could have been a folk song passed through the ages, its lyrics remain as prescient today as they have ever been.

"It settled down among us like a guest that never leaves

It turns Mothers against children, turned brothers into thieves"

As Julian says "There are people with enough money to eradicate it in 24 hours, but they choose not to"

So for now the lines in this chorus remain an optimistic dream

"Hunger Hunger take the plough and dig you under

One day we will wonder, what was hunger?"

A portion of the song’s sales will be donated to the Band Aid Charitable Trust.