PRESS REVIEWS
AMERICANA UK on FACE THE WIND
Dark and gritty Glaswegian Americana.
Scottish singer-songwriter John Alexander’s shows at the Edinburgh Fringe were entitled ‘Dustbowl Blues with a Glasgow kick’. It sums up the vein and texture of this album perfectly. It is a moody, atmospheric collection that fits together extremely well. He lists his influences as among others John Martyn, Bob Dylan, and Muddy Waters strands of which can definitely be heard here throughout. Scotland meets the American plains. His voice has a husky quality to it and throughout the standard of the musicianship is excellent and nicely sparse.
The production by Boo Hewerdine is nicely understated adding to the generally dark and menacing sensation. No more so than on the brooding stand-out track ‘Blood in The Water’ “The blood in the water tastes so sweet. Blood in the water ankle deep”. The slightly distorted guitar adds to the overall feeling of threat and maybe even danger.
‘Bullets in the Rain’ is a beautiful poignant song in which the John Martyn influence can definitely be heard: “I don’t taste the poison that seeps through my veins… bullets in the rain make me fall down and die”. The female vocal accompaniment on the track certainly adds to the whole. The blues influence can certainly be heard in ‘Fault and Blame’ with its slide guitar prevalent. It is the track that injects the most momentum into the album which could be a little one-paced for some initially.
So while it may not be an album that hits you between the ears on first listening, but it is a definite grower and well worth staying with. In ‘White Noise’ he invites you “to step outside if you dare, break the rules and see who cares”. It’s precisely this attitude that makes careful listening to ‘Face The Wind’ an extremely worthwhile and ultimately rewarding experience.
FOLKING.COM on FACE THE WIND
John Alexander is a Scottish songwriter and guitarist. He releases his new album, Face The Wind, on September 15th. At the Edinburgh Festival, he has recently concluded a number of well-regarded shows called Dustbowl Blues with a Glasgow Kick.
The shows’ title is spot on. You know how, at times, you first listen to a CD without knowing anything about the musician(s)? I listened to Face The Wind without reading about Alexander’s background. I thought these were nicely classy tracks, well put together, a mood that touches on darkness (“the chill of the dark/hides the look of despair” is a lyric that first hit me) – Americana with a mood touched by Steinbeck or Nebraska, but also some catchy melodies and lyrics delivered in a vocal shaded with gravel.
After a couple of listens, I flicked to the album cover, looked at titles like ‘Bullets In The Rain’, ‘Don’t Start A War’ ‘Blood In The Water’ ‘Last Man Standing’ etc and I wondered which part of America he was from.
I found out … ah … Glasgow … Scotland.
And I’ve come across his work before – playing guitar with Doghouse Roses, whose Iona MacDonald is on this album (as is Neil Warden on lap steel guitar). That Americana mood I’ve just celebrated? Alexander himself, on an album produced, recorded and mixed by Boo Hewerdine and Chris Pepper in Cambridgeshire, England.
You have the context, lets look at some of the tracks in a bit more detail. There’s the ominous tale of ‘Blood in the Water’ (the blood is ankle deep and filling up the well) perfectly matched to a low, dangerous lead guitar; and there’s ‘Living to Stay Alive’ more immediately catchy but still with darker lyrics:
“I need some air beneath these wings
I fought the day and the light it brings
I lost my faith, I’m losing time
My finest hour is no longer mine”
I began to realise that, even more so than usually, this is an album that repays more and more listening.
As well as the Americana influences, Alexander name checks Muddy Waters and there’s an obvious blues influence on, for example, ‘Fault And Blame’. There’s still more though – there’s a jauntiness to ‘This Side Of The Glass’, the last track on an album nicely sequenced so you leave Face The Wind on the catchiest of tunes and with Alexander’s positive, and no doubt hard-earned, perception “I don’t mind if you don’t sing along/This side of the glass is where I’m drinking from”.
I’ll leave you with the suggestion that you dig out ‘Don’t Start A War’. Like much of the album, it doesn’t punch you in the head on first listening – but it’s got a refrain that sticks and an arrangement that keeps a tension between the vocal, the heavy beat and a (low-ish mixed) howling guitar, all in support of a lyric that might be personal “Peace in the valley/Sleep with me tonight”? might be a fight “There’s blood in the street/I’m lying broke and bruised”? might be psychological “The devil’s in the shadows/shades of what’s to come”? might be literal given the current News? I’d guess it’s all of them mixed together, creatively merging into a song which has a mood, an arrangement and playing that leaves you both uneasy – and waiting to play it again. Clever.
According to his social media page, Alexander has been playing Dustbowl Blues events for over ten years. Like some of the Steinbeck work I referenced above, Face The Wind didn’t stick in my head on first listen, but it doesn’t half repay close attention.
Mike Wistow
THE ROCKING MAGPIE on FACE THE WIND
Smouldering Blues Tinged Americana Singer-Songwriter For Grown Ups
Just as I was winding down the reviews section of RMHQ, one of our friends in Scotland, broadcasting legend Mike Ritchie, knowing my tastes in music, got in touch regarding two albums from friends of his that he thought we’d enjoy.
He was correct of course; and here’s my thoughts on the first one, by Glaswegian singer-songwriter John Alexander.
Opening song Bullets in The Rain is mighty impressive; straddling the genre defying music we associate with acts like John Prine, Nanci Griffith, Steve Earle and the young John Martyn too, as Alexander combines gentle Bluesy licks with an Americana tinted story from a charmingly world weary voice aligned to a sharp and edgy female in the background.
What follows is predominantly Americana to my ears; but with a healthy dose of Southern Blues, most notably in the stunning guitar playing, and combining the two gives us some really memorable songs like White Noise and Long Way From Gone too.
Knowing Alexander comes from Glasgow I can hear hints of his accent in the background rasp during the stunning Blood In The Water and Breathe but generally his voice is deep and emotional with no discernible landmarks in it; quite International in fact …. making it accessible for English speaking audiences the world over.
The key to these songs though is Alexander’s incisive and acutely observed songwriting; which really comes to the fore with the smoky Last Man Standing and the title track Face The Wind, which has a neat Juke Joint melody and a kick in the teeth chorus.
If I’ve done my maths correctly, this is John Alexander’s 8th album since 2004, and it appears he’s served a long and globetrotting apprenticeship, playing to audiences the world over; which probably explains the way he naturally paints pictures in the listeners’ head with his words and imagery during the deceptively punchy Fault and Blame as well as the smouldering Living To Stay Alive.
As these are grown up and mature songs, there’s nothing here commercial enough to trouble the Top 40 chart compilers; but in some ways that’s a good thing as the target demographic will want to play this album from start to finish in the way the artist has arranged them; but a couple of songs really stand out from the crowd.
The finale This Side of The Glass is an honest and brutally honest harmony driven song about heartbreak and a broken heart in the style of Steve Earle or Neil Young; but neither can dredge up the pain and heartbreak these days that Alexander manages with consummate ease.
Then there is the gritty Don’t Start a War; very much a ‘song of our times’, with its doom laden arrangement and Alexander’s voice sounding pained and emotional as he tells a tale that can be deciphered on many levels.
Is it literally about the Wars that are springing up around the world?
Is it more local and his observations on the localised political climate?
Is it a metaphor for a the last days of a passionate relationship?
You decide – but it’s my Favourite Song on a very clever and Grown Up set of songs.
BLUE MATTERS on FACE THE WIND
Scottish songwriter and guitarist John Alexander brings together the latest instalment of dustbowl blues with the release of his new album Face The Wind. This collection of life and weather-beaten tales follows on from his previous release Of These Lands. The album was produced by Boo Hewerdine who plays guitar, keyboards and bass, it was recorded and mixed at Saltwell studios by Chris Pepper who plays drums, guitar and keyboards, with Iona Macdonald supplying backing vocals and Neil Warden on lap steel guitar. This is a collection of eleven original songs that starts with the wonderful Bullets In The Rain, the gentle delicate finger picking acoustic guitar and haunting lap steel create an emotive backdrop for Alexander's soulful vocals, with tender harmonies from Iona. This flows into Living To Stay Alive, finer guitar picking and backings vocals with an Americana feel. White Noise, a solid rhythmic beat and Alexander's ragged vocals give this a heartland rock feel, I could imagine Hiatt/ Mellencamp doing this. There's a lift in tempo for Don't Start A War, the drums change to a marching beat as the song builds on a background of atmospheric guitar work, while Alexander paints a cinematic landscape with vocals and lyrics. The more wistful Long Way From Gone brings some more delicious harmonies over the acoustic guitar and keyboard rhythm. The album closes out with Iona again adding backing vocals on the pleasing country Americana of This Side Of The Glass, this gets better with each listen, excellent album.
SHIRL
BLUES IN BRITAIN on FACE THE WIND
..You could view much of the Boo Hewerdine- produced Face The Wind as Americana,
albeit of a quite bluesy bent at times. The presence of Neil Warden on lap steel adds to that Americana feel: take a listen to the opening 'Bullets In The Rain' or the country-tinged 'This Side Of The Glass'. John's vocals are pleasingly weather-beaten and his songs are often thought-provoking and always focused and interesting.
He can indulge in a spot of blues- rock as on 'Blood In The Water' with its forceful electric guitar playing, 'Breathe' with its lovely soaring guitar break and fills and the muscular sound of 'Last Man Standing', but can also be cool and bluesy as on the title track, 'Living To Stay Alive' and 'White Noise'. 'Fault And Blame' is also rootsy, a kind of modern old-timey rooted number driven by a fine, infectious guitar riff
Indeed, I find more of interest each time I spin (or whatever it is you do) this CD: it's a set that should certainly interest a fair proportion of this magazine's readers, particularly those with a penchant for Americana. If what you've read interests or intrigues, do check Face The Wind out.
Norman Darwen
AMERICANA UK
his sound steeped in good old-fashioned earthy organic roots Americana, Alexander possesses a sound more akin to the banks of the Mississippi than his native River Clyde...a ton of influences and a load of natural talent 9/10
FATAE MAGAZINE
..full of soulful ambience and great storytelling...a great listen, and one that will surely be revisited again and again, revealing itself more fully with every play.
BURNSONG
a fabulously assured song that’s clearly the product of considerable talent and surefooted craftsmanship. Packed with wonderfully-realised imagery, the well-honed lyrics sustain a compelling narrative flow that’s expertly complemented by the music
Q Magazine
lilting acoustic blues...careworn tunes and his dust choked voice give a timeless feel to his songs
BLABBER & SMOKE
..he’s welded to and wades in muddy waters..Alexander’s voice has a very fine smoke stained patina that at times sends chills up the spine...a wonderful conglomeration of folk and blues (and beyond).. a very fine album
JOHNNY'S GARDEN
from google translate:
think of John Martyn's early records..A record you will have a long time of enjoyment..
DAILY RECORD
..a musical journey on lonesome highways to the Mississippi delta performed with the passion and angst of America’s deep south”
Maverick
so scintillating that is sounds at times you could be forgiven for losing yourself completely”****
GUITAR & BASS MAGAZINE
Alexander puts his virtuoso skills on slide and acoustic guitar to fine use on this collection of tunes that will create a righteous dustbowl around your stereo
FOLK RADIO UK
husky voiced Alexander’s album very much rooted in dustbowl blues...these tales of weather-beaten lives make for engrossing listening.
BLUES MATTERS
With a rich imagery within his lyrics to songs such as ‘This Side Or The Other’ and a likeable dry wit, Alexander is an engaging and talented performer well worthy of your exploration.
THE HERALD
scorching guitar riffs, dusty vocals and beautifully crafted songs
THE SUNDAY HERALD
think Robert Johnson by way of Mark Knopfler...Just how the blues should be
Rock N Reel
Guitar-country and Delta blues styles knowledgeably tempered with folk picking.. i could go on, but its far better you discover these delights for yourself; this is superb ****