Walking Home (Bluebird Café Berlin Records) is the 2008 CD offering from globe trotting singer-songwriter-guitarist Robert Williams. Aided by the considerable talents of Berlin based Sri Lankan producer Ramesh Weeratunga, Williams presents us with an effort that transcends the folk/country/blues labels that could be applied to his roots and delivers a modern work of sensitivity, humor, originality and sonic sophistication.

In a departure from his previous Nashville recorded States Secrets CD, which featured a “band” approach to arrangements, Walking Home is more intimate with William’s fine guitar playing and distinctive, honest vocals taking center stage. Additionally Williams’ choice of Ramesh Weeratunga as producer was an inspired transition. Known for his pristine recordings and eclectic musical tapestries, Weeratunga’s arrangement contributions for Walking Home understand and enhance the “twists and turns” of Williams’ themes. Take “Hillbilly Love Triangle” for example, a sordid tale of lust and betrayal below the “Texas Line”. It’s fusion of country-honky tonk authenticity and funk and groove elements is cool, fresh, even outrageous and just plain comical. Don’t let this mislead you, however. Walking Home sounds and feels very organic and natural with Williams’ acoustic guitar leading the instrumentation. “Without a Clue” is a tender fingerpicked ackowledgement that love remains an enigma, inexplicable and inescapable. Here Williams exhibits his admiration for songwriting of the first half of the 20th century when melody, harmony and turn of phrase reigned supreme. In fact, throughout Walking Home Williams’ conscientious attention to lyric is apparent. “On A Gray Day” is one man’s melancholic deliberation on the metaphorical journey that is his life …and perhaps ours, too. As the arrangement slowly develops it seems to lift the listener up and carry him along as the journey progresses. “Walkin’ Blues” is Williams’ toe tappin’ take on the familiar song form but with a catchy rhythmic twist played on mandolin and a subtle, up lifting, “join the movement” message. From the opening bars of Williams’ commentary on human folly and its unintended consequences titled “Nothing At All”, Weeratunga’s cinematic arrangement signals the ominous quandaries that sooner or later we all must face. The listener can virtually see the dark clouds approaching in the distance. Robert Williams’ words and music conjure up mental images of places and people and stir the emotions, the signs of a fully developed artist unafraid to combine the influences acquired during a life of wandering. It is for this reason that, although his “Americana” roots are evident throughout Walking Home, if the listener allows his mind to drift for a moment, home could be …well, anywhere.

Discography

The Broadcasters (various cuts) 1983 Germany - Deutsche Grammophon

Hagelberger Street Musician's Collective (various cuts) 1995 Hagelberger Street: Americans in Berlin - PowerPlay Records (leider bereits vergriffen)

Grajeda & Williams 2000 Staytrue Street - Ordnung & Hartmann Records

Robert Williams 2004 State Secrets - Ordnung & Hartmann Records

DAFT Tour Compilation 2004 - Laura Records

Robert Williams 2008 Walking Home - Bluebird Café Berlin Records