Josh Bray debut album Whisky and Wool
aaamusic | On 13, Jan 2011
It’s time for something acoustically refreshing. Devon-born Josh Bray is emerging onto the folk-blues scene with his debut album ‘Whisky and Wool’, released March 7th, 2011 on NewTide Records.
Half of the album was recorded in Truck Studios, run by the Bennet Brothers, members of the critically-acclaimed Oxford-based group Danny and The Champions – and Josh describes how the recording process inspired him to come up with the album title itself.
“The studio is on a farmland in a metal shipping container within a barn,” he says. “The equipment was fantastic, but it was freezing cold, as we were there mid-winter. So we resorted to woolly jumpers and whisky to keep us warm, hence the title.” Singer Hannah Lou also features throughout the album on backing vocals, part of the credible Hannah Lou and Trevor Moss duo.
The other half of the record was recorded in London’s Apollo Control Studios by renowned producer Howard Gray, who’s worked with Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Jimmy Page, U2 and the Cure.
‘Whisky and Wool’ draws plenty of inspiration from Josh’s childhood. Although born in Devon, he grew up in Dorset, where he spent his time listening not to acoustic singer-songwriters, as you might imagine, but the likes of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin and Pantera. It wasn’t until Bray happened to switch on the TV a few years later, when he moved to Bristol to live with his brother, and heard the late Nick Drake performing ‘Riverman’, that suddenly it all made sense to him. Josh started down a path which encouraged him to investigate further, and he soon became immersed in 1970s folk/rock, taking in Joni Mitchell, CSN and Neil Young as well as John Martyn, Fairport Convention, Bob Dylan and The Band. Those are the sounds and inspiration that echo so clearly throughout ‘Whisky and Wool’.
Josh picked up an old Spanish guitar which belonged to his late father and which he still plays with, and began to teach himself . The detuned style he inherited from the British folk scene is still a significant part of his style.
Having dabbled in music for a while and having played local clubs, Josh decided to put music to one side for the time being, and went to study law at university. After graduating, he was all set to move to the US and work in human rights law for people on death row, where he’d been offered a job – but then a friend persuaded him to put his law career on hold for a while and give music a go, as occasionally Josh had played the odd gig whilst at uni. He never looked back!
Josh put a band together consisting of guitarist Guy Prall, bassist Si Robinson and drummer Ed Broad ( Jay Jay Pistolet, Dub Pistols), whom Josh had befriended after seeing them play in a local band. Before long, they were setting about recording the album.
Josh explains that ‘Whisky and Wool’ is his personal work of passion. Or, as he puts it: “I don’t want to be on ‘Cribs’ or walk around in fur coats, or wear sunglasses at night. I just want to play live and put records out that I hope people will enjoy. Style over substance, pretence and fakery are rife and they all pass for talent because people are so caught up with it, but no more!”
Josh will be playing a number of dates in London over the coming weeks and with more dates to follow.
19th January – Green Note, Camden, London
27th January – 12 Bar, Denmark Street, London
