It's not often that I'm surprised by Music any more. Too much information available now via all of the different online outlets. How Bennett Wilson Poole (BWP) managed to keep this project a secret deserves an award in itself. But, keep it a secret they did and managed to produce THE Americana Album of 2018 - for me anyway.
Let's go through the members
Robin Bennett - is formerly a member of Danny & The Champions, Goldrush and with his brother Joe and drummer Jamie Dawson has produced some glorious albums with The Dreaming Spires including the sublime Searching For The Supertruth which was my Album Of The Year back in 2015.
Danny George Wilson is the leader of his current excellent band Danny & The Champions Of The World. He has also been a member of Grand Drive and produced his own solo albums.
Tony Poole is the UK Rickenbacker supremo and producer who has previously been in the excellent Starry Eyed & Laughing - that's him with the glasses on the right.
Live - the band are augmented by Society's drummer Fin Kenny and Robin Bennett's brother Joe on Guitar, Keys & Vocals
As you might imagine - all of the players bring their considerable skills to the party and boy there are so many joys on this album.
The first track released from the album and track one is the tuneful Soon Enough - in the video there is definitely a nod to The Travelling Wilburys and you'll also find that in the sound too.
Tony Poole's Rickenbacker is certainly to the fore in this first track and appears throughout the album to bring a distinctly Byrdsian flavour to the mix. Indeed, the boys never shy away from showing their influences on the project including The Byrds, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Buffalo Springfield, The Travelling Wilburys and Tom Petty.
BWP The Album comes across as three guys who had a drink one evening and thought, do you know what, I bet we could produce a great album together. And they certainly have.
It's great fun playing spot the influences and it encourages you to go back and search out the previous recordings by the individual members. Too many great tracks to mention individually although a special mention must go the the opening Soon Enough and the Epic closing track Lifeboat (Take a Picture of Yourself)
I haven't heard another album so far this year with as much Joie De Vivre as BWP. You can tell in the grooves that the boys have had a blast laying down these tracks. The playing is first class, the songwriting is first class. All of the guys get to sing lead vocals at some point and the harmonies take you straight back to CSN.
There is a good balance to the more reflective acoustic ballads and to the more upbeat tunes. Lots of glorious retro touches such as organ lines and sounds too. Plenty of lines to reel you in and hooks galore to have you singing after a couple of plays.
Although the references may be somewhat nostalgic, it is very much an album of today. An album of quality and distinction. Every song is worthy and played with class. I've got it on Vinyl and it sounds gorgeous. Warm and welcoming. Just get out there and buy it and be thankful that album number 2 is being planned.
Twitter
Bennett Wilson Poole - @benwilpoole
The Dreaming Spires - @dreaming_spires
Danny Wilson - @Dannythechamp
Tony Poole - @Thought_Talk
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