Richard Davies, a name that may be new to many, however he is no newcomer, having played guitar in 90's Indie Popsters Tiny Monroe, and 00's Alt-Country combo The Snakes. Human Traffic is his debut solo album, backed by The Dissidents, a group of old friends and former band colleagues. Richard has written and recorded a collection of emotive, life reflecting and life affirming songs, Ten tracks of pure and perfect 'Countrydelic Rock'n'Roll' Imagine Steve Earle playing with The Byrds at a Paisley Underground revival festival while the ghosts of Johnny Thunders and Tom Petty look on.
From the opening beats of call to arms title track 'Human Traffic', to the final ringing guitar on album closer the epic and enthralling 'No Mans Land' the songs on this album are full of fragile vulnerability and hope. 'Lay Me Low' is an old hymn first written down in 1838 by a revolutionary religious sect called The Shakers and later sung by the troops in the trenches of WW1, here it is given a spine tingling and seductive spin by Richard and his Dissidents. Throughout the rest of the album songs like ‘21st Century Man' ‘Way of The Wild' and ‘Echo Road' strut, stroll, sway and swagger along, guitar licks weep and bleed, while the vocals are delivered with a real passion and feeling. The production is massive and expansive and with songwriting and musicianship this good, It's no wonder that Richard has worked with the likes of Peter Perrett and Glen Matlock. A truly brilliant and beautiful record! Album of the year? Well it's gonna take something pretty special to top this one.
Released by Bucketfull of Brains Records on June 12th.
No comments:
Post a Comment