When it came to trying to sum up Terl, and his work, I was struggling as I knew that, having met him, he is a nice bloke but musically he is too eclectic to fully summarise in a few words. I was aware that he is a member of the Martin Barre Band, was in Iona and, as if that wasn’t enough, has his own solo career. Also, when I looked on his website at all the artists and bands he has worked with, I was amazed by the sheer length and breadth of it. It was an A to W (No X, Y, or Z’s) of the obscure, to me at least, and people who everyone should know. John Paul Jones, Peter Gabriel, Dame Shirley Bassey and Brynn Terfel might only be the tip of the iceberg, but it is definitely an impressive chunk of ice.
Despite all his work with other people he still finds time to record and release his own albums which all manage to sound different, fresh and well worth a listen, but they are possibly for other reviews, so I am just going to wax lyrical about his latest release, Jargon. Something that, itself has a list of contributors that will take me a long time to record at the end of the review, and the image of them all, on the CD’s back cover, looks like a modern version of the Sergeant Pepper’s sleeve.
Album opener, This Is How It Looks To Me makes me think of a modernised and funkier version of Sammy Davis Jr’s Rhythm of Life. But when you have Linx’s David Grant on vocals it would be hard to make a bad song. An upbeat start to the album. Next up is Clouds Pass By with the Alex Hart providing sweet vocals and Martin Barre delivering great guitar work, it made me think that Terl was just showing off with so many talented friends 😉 Covered in Scars continues the use of musician drawn from a rich bank of talent. An blues rock song that sounded like the sort of song that would have been created if Jeff Healey, Bruce Hornsby and Boz Scaggs had they recorded a song together. A sound that owes its thanks to it being cowritten by, and having the vocals, of Phil Maderia. A tough call but probably my favourite track on the album.
Between Wind and Flames, an instrumental named after his own painting used for the album cover, rather than a tale of what happens when Pétomane goes wrong. It sounds like bluegrass if played by Jethro Tull, but that is hardly surprising as, once again Martin Barre it the driving force behind the track. As if Terl hasn’t shown off enough with all the famous friends in his phone book Walnut Trees takes it one step further and has Oscar nominated actress and singer Elizabeth McGovern doing the honours on lead vocals. It has a Grace Jones feel with extra smoothness added by the saxophone of fellow Iona band member, David Fitzgerald. It upholds the eclectic and unpredictable feel of the album. It keeps me listening for two good reasons, I am enjoying the music and, secondly, I have no idea what to expect next.
Ghosts continues the expect the unexpected philosophy, Jules Bryant’s vocals and Matt Steady’s violin and strings ensure that it is haunting and seeps into the soul like a spectre. Beautiful lyrics as well, which make me want to challenge my own choice of favourite song on the album; a tough call. The title track, Jargon, has Elizabeth McGovern returning for vocal duties, this time duetting with Terl. A song that seems to be more of a musical discussion about trying to remember a computer password. A bit of a self-indulgent buggers muddle lyrically but it is saved by the great music.
After the slight slump of the previous track the album is brought back to the high standards by Overrated, another blues rock track with wonderfully cynical and snarling vocals care of Steve Taylor. Terl also has a chance to show of his drumming which I am sure that, if I saw him perform this live, he’d have an excuse for a long, crashing solo. Not the most complicated of lyrics, but it works. Continuing, Written on Hands, is another blues contribution with a perfect blend of vocals from Chris Falon, David Grant’s sax, Alex Hart’s backing vocals and Noel Robinson’s guitar.
The penultimate track, Sky is Changing, slows down the tempo a little, while maintaining the sound and feel of the album. A lovely love song with pedal steel. Once again Iona provides a contributor, this time Joanne Hogg, on vocals, delivering the vocals as if she has lived them. Finally comes Life’s On. A triumphant finale with tight violin contributions from Basie Bartz. It is like Terl is determined to end on a high, which he manages to do with aplomb.
Sometimes I find that, no matter how good the music is, an album can be too long and would benefit from having fewer tracks. But Jargon is certainly not the case. The final track came to an end, with me left wanting more. An album with a great, up lifting feel that made me want to revisit his other CDs that I have in my collection, along with me wanting to hear his next album.
TRACK LISTING
01. This Is How It Looks To Me (2:35)
02. Clouds Pass By (4:40)
03. Covered In Scars (4:19)
04. Between Wind And Flames (2:38)
05. Walnut Trees (2:55)
06. Ghosts (3:07)
07. Jargon (3:28)
08. Overrated (4:02)
09. Written On Hands (4:45)
10. Sky Is Changing (4:45)
11. Life’s On (3:21)
Total Time – 40:37
MUSICIANS
Alan Thomson – Bass
Alex Hart – Lead & Backing Vocals
Barnabas Shaw – Pedal Steel
Basia Bartz – Violin
Ben Reed – Bass, Guitars
Chris Falson – Vocals
David Fitzgerald – Saxophone, Flute
David Grant – Lead & Backing Vocals
Elizabeth McGovern – Vocals
Glen Holeman – Bass
Joanne Hogg – Lead & Backing Vocals
Jules Bryant – Lead & Backing Vocals
Martin Barre – Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Mandola, Flute
Marty Dieckmeyer – Bass
Matt Steady – Violin
Matt Weeks – Bass, Acoustic Guitar
Noel Robinson – Electric Guitar
Paul Mitchell – Guitars
Phil Madeira – Vocals, Electric Guitar, Hammond Organ
Rob Watson – Piano, Synths
Simon Nelson – Electric & Acoustic Guitars
Steve Taylor – Lead & Backing Vocals
Sandra Differding – Bass Trombone
Tania Differding – Bass Trombone
Terl Bryant – Drums, Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals
Tim Harries – Bass
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 12th December 2025
LINKS
Terl Bryant – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram
