aaamusic | On 06, Mar 2011

Whisky & Wool, Josh Bray’s debut album, is an extended version of the eponymous EP released in 2010. The blues-folk singer-songwriter added eight tracks to show the listener a music world inherited by Nick Drake, Ray La Montagne and Tracy Chapman.

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 opening track, River Song, es a gentle low-key song you could imagine listening to on a lazy sunny afternoon. You can tell straight away that though this guy may not be entirely original, he’s got talent and a soothing voice flanked by sensitive strings and gentle backing vocals

Rise has the taste of folk-pop heartbreaking ballads, with a tuning of his voice very similar to some variations adopted by Tracy Chapman, while Bigger than the both of us picked acoustic guitar echoes over a bed of mellow, low cello and gentle suggestions of strings which are perfectly complimentary to Bray’s penetrating lyrics.

It’s clear that every tune has its own influences, Josh refers to the whole folk tradition, I can also add Joni Mitchell and a certain taste for Bob Dylan, This is life faces the typical topics about living life and the passing of the time, very decadent and the result is a pleasant song gently sung and supported by soft female choirs.

Hard living is more blues, with a beautiful guitar solo, also in the ballad The Final chance the guitar is the dominant instrument, creating a melancholic sonic tapestry flanked by harmonized vocals.

Draw in the lines is acoustic, with delicate Joyce’s vocals who dominated the scene and a guitar inspired by Jose Gonzales finger-picking style, while Living Free rockier adding electric guitar and sounding a bit more like The Dave Matthews Band combined with Damien Rice here.

Indian Gin is clearly influenced by 60-70s music, with Bray’s voice a little echoed and a very loose singing style, sustained by acoustic and electric guitars, combined in a Led Zepp way.

Testify closes the album leaving a sweet and aching feeling, with Bray’s vocals at his best in performing the sensation of heartache.

Whisky & Wool is a very good album especially because not many bands are composing music inspired by the 60-70s blues-folk scene, and I was missing it a bit, so welcome to this new talent.

Author: Roberta Capuano