Elsewhere, themes of journeys and movement and progress surface in ‘Journey From A To B’ and ‘Degrees Of Separation’. The images, says Gough, are ‘of having the strength to carry people along with you in life and keep things going and get the best out of it all.’
Where One Plus One Is One was an intimate, introspective album, Born In The UK is more inclusive, reaching out. It’s the arm around the shoulder, the encouraging, cautionary but ultimately positive word in the ear. ‘It is an album with which I want to embrace the wider world.’ But of course, in the end it comes back to one man and his doggone-obsessions: family, love, Springsteen.
The final track is ‘One Last Dance’, inspired by the long-gone Manchester club night, Holy City Zoo, where Gough met his missus. ‘It’s a homage to that place, really, ‘cause it’s a good name. An attempt to relive that moment and kickstart the next chapter in your life together. It’s a nice album closer. A human connection thing again, which summarises what’s gone before. “And if we don’t have a plan let’s just listen to ‘Thunder Road’” is the last line on the album.’
Damon Gough, a fan’s fan, likes that.
So here we are. Gough is tired but buzzing. He got there in the end. ‘It’s been the most difficult record I’ve made to date,’ he admits. ‘But maybe that’s all my fault. Maybe it’s my demons that have made that happen. Or maybe it’s just that I’m trying to seize an opportunity that I’ve been given. It’s kinda been humbling to have a failed project, and regroup. ‘The challenge mentally is that the time has come where I need to do something that will live in the climate of the mainstream. That’s what I wanna do - it’s an attempt to be up there,’ he says with characteristic unfashionable Blunt-ness. ‘And that’s difficult. I don’t really wanna be James Blunt, quite frankly, with mediocre material that makes it to Number One. But good luck to the guy. And I’ve come round to thinking, well, actually, you can’t fault what he’s done. He’s not the only one. There have been so many artists that have emerged in the last few years that are not challenging anything but are doing something that sits well on radio and gets played and housewives sing along.’ Another Marlborough Light blazing away, his album almost (finally, at last) done – a mix here, a tweak there – Gough slips into tap-room philosopher mode. ‘You’ve got one life. I’ve got Clare and the kids. I want them to be happy, I want to look after the kids as long as they live. So, right, this is where my success has brought me so far, I’m gonna make a few big albums. And then perhaps after that’s done I can sit back and just put out what I want on Twisted Nerve. But this is the period in my life where I’m gonna see how far I can take it. See how many Number One hits I can have, for a laugh.’
As Gough says this, there’s a twinkle in his eye, but something – iron? steel? resolve? beer? – in his tone. Number Ones, eh?
Protection - we do a lot of it these days. Sun cream for our skin, sunglasses for our eyes, condoms for you know where - but do you remember to protect your hearing?
Click to find all the information you need to look after your hearing now so you can enjoy music for years to come
The Raft has discovered The CarbonNeutral Company
They help business, government and individuals to tackle their contribution to climate change. In addition to forestry projects, their work includes carbon emissions reduction, renewable energy and biomass schemes, as well as carbon management and risk consulting
