John Alexander
>> 24/7 EP
It often goes down well when a musician puts their heart into a song. Honesty is something that cannot easily be faked – many bands slip up in the eager chase to ape their heroes – so it is always a pleasure to hear a cd in which every note is meant and every lyric resonates with truth.
John Alexander’s 24/7 ep is a true gem. Not only is the man a gifted musician he is also a superb singer and songwriter. (The last time I heard such an amazing study of country-tinted folk was on Gary Ryan’s ‘Scenes from the Wild West’ movement from the ‘World’s Apart’ album – Google it!)
‘When the Wind Blows’ is a fantastic first track. Anyone familiar with the late 70s and the emergent works of the early ‘Americana’ artists should fall in love with this. It has both a Parson’s-esque edginess and a Cash-like smoothness. The production is minimalism at its best leaving acres of space for the song to breathe. Magical. The same can be said for the rest of the four tracks here but ‘Don’t Give it Up’ also deserves special mention. Doing what this music does best, it lifts the soul despite the often bleak, minor key writing.
For fans of Gram Parsons, Townes Van Zandt, the Byrds (and so on) this modern, Scottish take will hypnotise you. In fact, if you’re a fan of music, in the true sense of the word, you’ll love this cd.
>> Russell Moore
www.johnalexander.info
www.myspace.com/hotlemonmusic
It often goes down well when a musician puts their heart into a song. Honesty is something that cannot easily be faked – many bands slip up in the eager chase to ape their heroes – so it is always a pleasure to hear a cd in which every note is meant and every lyric resonates with truth.
John Alexander’s 24/7 ep is a true gem. Not only is the man a gifted musician he is also a superb singer and songwriter. (The last time I heard such an amazing study of country-tinted folk was on Gary Ryan’s ‘Scenes from the Wild West’ movement from the ‘World’s Apart’ album – Google it!)
‘When the Wind Blows’ is a fantastic first track. Anyone familiar with the late 70s and the emergent works of the early ‘Americana’ artists should fall in love with this. It has both a Parson’s-esque edginess and a Cash-like smoothness. The production is minimalism at its best leaving acres of space for the song to breathe. Magical. The same can be said for the rest of the four tracks here but ‘Don’t Give it Up’ also deserves special mention. Doing what this music does best, it lifts the soul despite the often bleak, minor key writing.
For fans of Gram Parsons, Townes Van Zandt, the Byrds (and so on) this modern, Scottish take will hypnotise you. In fact, if you’re a fan of music, in the true sense of the word, you’ll love this cd.
>> Russell Moore
www.johnalexander.info
www.myspace.com/hotlemonmusic
