Thursday 9 May 2019

Favourite Albums of 2019: Yola - Walk Through Fire


For all of my Prog - Americana - Folk & Singer/Songwriter leanings, I do have a secret soft spot for a bit of  Soul. Especially what would now be classed as Vintage Soul.
There are a lot of artists now ploughing this fruitful furrow, especially in The States. So, it's wonderful to hear some home grown talent such as the lady with the fabulous voice, Ms Yola Carter aka Yola.

Yola made her debut with her EP Orphan Offering. A Country tinged offering that showcases her fabulous voice.


Orphan Country


Yola's full debut is the lovely and inspirational Walk Through Fire. It was recorded in Nashville with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach in the producer's chair. And he's made a splendid job of it. With nods to Soul, Country, Gospel, American and good old balladering, it's a heady concoction.

Yola & The Clubhouse All-Stars


And I doubt you'll hear a better opening song on an album this year. The soaring Faraway Look is brilliant. A huge production number that brings to mind Bacharach at his best.

Faraway Look

Over 12 tracks, Yola takes you on a sonic journey that chooses the best sounds in the above genres to weave an album that is joyful, tearful and ultimately uplifting and perfect for those wearied by the last couple of years.

Photo Courtesy of John Morgan Photography

Shady Grove is a lovely dense orchestrated shuffle with strings, acoustic guitar and brushed percussion. A lovely little song that has echoes of the 60s.

Ride Out In The Country is a soulful Country Ballad with lovely harmonies and multi tracked vocals. 

Ride Out In The Country

It Ain't Easier, Walk Through Fire and Rock Me Gently are three soulful country ballads which highlight Yola's range and delivery. All would sound fabulous on US Radio.



Love All Night (Work All Day) could have come straight out of a 1970s Linda Ronstadt album. Although she doesn't sound like Linda, the album very much reminds me of her 1970s golden albums like Hasten Down The Wind in sound and feel.

Love All Night (Work All Day)

And as if to prove the point, Deep Blue Dream and Lonely The Night are very much in the same vein. But it's fabulous to hear the nods to these fabulous albums of the 1970s. Dan has certainly been doing his homework.


Lonely The Night

Still Gone is the poppiest song on the album - but I mean poppiest in it's 1960s sense. It's the nearest the album gets to a Motown vibe on the album. And it's none the worse for that.


Keep Me Hear is another big ballad that ebbs and flows in a delightful way - like a heartbeat.

The album closes with Love Is Light, a cleaner more acoustic production that really showcases Yola's fabulous voice before it breaks into a handclapping and horn led finale. A fine way to sign off.

Love Is Light

So all in all a fine record that deserves some attention. It'll probably work best in the USA where  they are suckers for this kind of slick production which is a million miles from the processed Scandi Pop which we are being subjected to at the moment. At least it's real guys, playing real instruments, with some Soul and Flair



Now, if I can just get her to play Acapela Studios!!


Yola  -  The Full Session




Twitter - @iamyola





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