Gwyn Ashton – Mojosoul
Fab Tone Records
10 songs 38 minutes
Gwyn Ashton, hailing from Wales and rooted in South Australia, brings his extensive musical journey to life in his latest release, "Mojosoul," marking his 10th album. Settling in the U.K., Ashton dives into the acoustic Mississippi blues traditions, offering a modern and personal take on the genre.
The album kicks off with "By Your Side," a love song infused with a gospel-tinged sound. Ashton showcases his prowess on a Harmony electric guitar with a fuzz tone, delivering hard-bitten licks. "No More" features his skills on a 12-string guitar, addressing the woes of the modern age against a backdrop of a booming drum beat.
Collaborating with Garry Allen, Ashton explores his National steel guitar on "Take Your Medication." While the lyrics may be somewhat generic, Ashton's tightly drawn slide playing steals the spotlight. "Vanish Into Thin Air" picks up the pace, spinning a driving and hypnotic groove as Ashton laments lost love.
A standout track, "Allergic To Love," combines rocking intensity with a humorous perspective on the challenges of making meaningful connections, despite resorting to self-help courses. "The Ballad Of Gwyn Ashton" is a talking blues that unfolds the guitarist's life story, name-dropping influences and concluding with the proclamation that "the thrill ain’t never gone."
"12,000 Miles From Home" channels Johnny Winter's slide style on an acoustic guitar, narrating a true blues saga of Ashton's 2019 Australian tour marred by bushfires and the subsequent nationwide Covid lockdown. Co-written with Allen, "Yesterday’s Me (Cool, Cool Water)" presents a gentle ballad showcasing Ashton's exceptional guitar work.
On "The Blues Should Take A Holiday," Ashton puts his National through its paces, attempting to drive the blues away. The album concludes with the solemn "The Perfect Day To Sing The Blues," featuring haunting vocals and delicate slide picking, offering a fitting end to a record that unravels the diverse facets of Ashton's musical journey along the blues highway.
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