Wednesday 31 October 2012

Joshua James - Build Me This [noisetrade free download]



 Mouth of the Gift Horse

The gospel stomp of Coal War that opens Joshua James’ second album Build Me This, released in 2009, is a strong start with its potent ensemble vocals. What follows is quite a mix of loud and soft, slow and fast, acoustic and electric eclecticism. His voice can be wispy in that way where affectation resides, but I think it is just how he sounds, so you’ll either like or wince at times. Third song Weeds, an acoustic folk number, has the Ray Lamontagne about it, at a higher register, the accompanying harmony vocal adding variation. Fifth Mother Mary, with its fuzzed guitar start, picks up the pace as it pounds out more of a rock stomp. It is an album, however, dominated by the vocal which is ultimately an acquired taste. This is, I know, a reserved review, but I do recommend as a free download from noisetrade, who I have promoted before. James is clearly keen to get his work out there again, and this album is quite listenable, with Coal War on its own worth the time to avail yourself of the free gesture. And that song/performance does indicate the promise there.

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