Howling Turtle

****1/2

I’ve always prided myself on being very much aware of talented singers, songwriters and performers that fall loosely within the boundaries of country and rootsy Americana, but Julian Taylor, an award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, is a new name to me. Despite the fact that he’s been treading the boards in his home country for more than 20 years, initially as an integral member of Staggered Crossing and for the past dozen years as something of a cult singer-songwriter with a growing fan base, I’d never come across him. This is his sixth solo album and for the record, this one is very, very good. From the driving delivery of the opening title track to the gentle assurance of the hopeful Over The Moon he makes music that’s consistently tender, touching and well suited to sparking an emotional connection. The overall tone of the album falls somewhere between bittersweet and full on melancholy. It’s not every writer who’d be at ease sharing some of their most personal and vulnerable emotions with listeners, but for Julian Taylor it is that personal touch that ties these eight songs all together. He comes across as a knowing singer-songwriter, and while his sentiments may seem obvious and even simple to any outside observer, the thoughts he expresses ring true, especially to anyone whose outlook on life remains untarnished by cynicism or sarcasm.

The blend of hopeful melodies and astute arrangements make for an ideal combination, one that paints the best possible picture of a life well lived in what can only be described as perfectly idyllic circumstances. This is music stirred with sensitivity, purpose and appreciation for the gifts Julian’s been given and which he’s obviously eager to embrace along with anyone willing to listen. His melodies are refreshingly outside the box, and his writing is rich in imagery and powerful in message. He grabbed my attention from the very first notes of The Ridge, a song recalling those childhood days of summer holidays spent out in the country on his grandmother’s farm. Fuzz-fuelled nostalgia that will have you pining for those innocent carefree days there's no denying its power at recalling the rushes of excitement that are so entangled in a young child’s life. With yearning guitar riffs propelled by a driving rhythm section and coupled with Julian’s vocals which were made for musical storytelling, songwriting as graceful and elemental as this is ripe for any season.

Human Race is a slow song; a real acoustic beauty with gorgeous pedal steel by Burke Carroll wafting away in the background. Julian’s smooth delivery is just right for this reflective number, even recalling a bit of a Neil Diamond sound in his voice. Ballad Of A Young Troubadour is an earworm of a track featuring sticky steel and fiddle lines and irresistible chorus vocals courtesy of Dala (Sheila Carabine & Amanda Walther). In addition to having a compelling melody and groove, it’s really a lyrically visual tune as it details Julian’s musical journey from a 17-year old with nothing more than hopeful dreams to the mature and experienced musician that he is today. There is a distinctive Orbison-esque vibe to Love Enough, with Julian’s passionate and dramatic vocal supported by a compelling conga rhythm and his finely picked acoustic guitar.

THE RIDGE is rife with minimally detailed yet fully rendered character sketches, and Julian Taylor’s deftness at seamlessly weaving intricate musical textures into riveting stories elevates his music well above much of the crowded folk-adjacent field. This album isn’t flash; it’s grounded by its eight well-constructed songs that retain their charms after multiple plays due to their sculpted melodies and he and co-producer Saam Hashemi’s light touch ... evidence that Julian Taylor is as savvy a musician as he is a singer-songwriter. He has the rare ability of delivering a lyric with such honesty and emotion that the characters and images come to life.

www.juliantaylormusic.ca

May 2020