Marc Ford:
Holy Ghost:
Naim Edge:
April 14th 2014:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Formerly the guitarist with Southern rockers Black Crowes, Marc Ford has released more solo albums than he did with those hit-makers, a little-known fact that ranks alongside another fact - his term as contributor to a few Ben Harper albums up until 2006's Both Sides Of The Gun. He's also been a producer, most notably for Bristol's why-aren't-they-famous soul-rock outfit Phantom Limb on their super 2011 album,The Pines.
So, he's been kept busy but not so busy that he hasn't had time to complete his fifth lone recording, this year's Holy Ghost. Rooted in the harmony-blues and languid Americana that fuelled much of the Black Crowes output in the '90s, this dozen-strong set is, on the whole, a steadfast and resilient experience. Very little breaks sweat - it doesn't need to, the songs are strong enough to carry it all - and Marc Ford's deft guitar-work pitches up nicely alongside his band-mates' efforts.
Elements of James Taylor, Neil Young, David Crosby and the like permeate much of the material on offer including the easy laid-back Dream #26 and the really rather pretty In You. I'm Free and Sometimes are examples of the bluesy end of Ford's canon while You Know What I Mean recalls Karl Wallinger's folkier exploits as World Party.
All twelve songs have been penned by Ford, most are above-average, a couple are superb (In You - very moreish) and a few pass by inoffensively. The pick of the bunch are the final pairing of Badge Of Descension, written by Ford but originally recorded by the aforementioned Phantom Limb who make up some of the band and production team here, and the blissed-out Call Me Faithful which builds into something of an epic curtain-call to bring the album to a triumphant conclusion.
Overall, Holy Ghost is a personal, intimate, reflective and often reassuring glimpse into the musical mind of a man who's probably seen and done more than most of his listeners put together. It is truly a Ford fiesta.
Holy Ghost:
Naim Edge:
April 14th 2014:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
So, he's been kept busy but not so busy that he hasn't had time to complete his fifth lone recording, this year's Holy Ghost. Rooted in the harmony-blues and languid Americana that fuelled much of the Black Crowes output in the '90s, this dozen-strong set is, on the whole, a steadfast and resilient experience. Very little breaks sweat - it doesn't need to, the songs are strong enough to carry it all - and Marc Ford's deft guitar-work pitches up nicely alongside his band-mates' efforts.
Elements of James Taylor, Neil Young, David Crosby and the like permeate much of the material on offer including the easy laid-back Dream #26 and the really rather pretty In You. I'm Free and Sometimes are examples of the bluesy end of Ford's canon while You Know What I Mean recalls Karl Wallinger's folkier exploits as World Party.
All twelve songs have been penned by Ford, most are above-average, a couple are superb (In You - very moreish) and a few pass by inoffensively. The pick of the bunch are the final pairing of Badge Of Descension, written by Ford but originally recorded by the aforementioned Phantom Limb who make up some of the band and production team here, and the blissed-out Call Me Faithful which builds into something of an epic curtain-call to bring the album to a triumphant conclusion.
Overall, Holy Ghost is a personal, intimate, reflective and often reassuring glimpse into the musical mind of a man who's probably seen and done more than most of his listeners put together. It is truly a Ford fiesta.