Got a new one from Glasgow based singer-songwriter Lloyd James Fay – an album titled ‘The Black River Chronicles.”  An acoustic guitar and vocal based record of 10 very intriguing songs, beautifully played.

Fay has excellent finger-style chops and uses them to build lush beds for his lyrics to lay in. It’s not all strictly acoustic, though. Cool little surprises crop up in most of the tunes with some raw and emotive electric guitars and percussion. There are a couple neat instrumentals also. I dig a good instrumental number that lets the mind decide what the music means.

Lloyd James Fay embarks on his first foray into solo territory with the highly anticipated release of his beguiling debut LP, The Black River Chronicles. An introspective reflection of his formative years, childhood stories and forlorn first loves in suburban Lanarkshire’s creaking post-steel-industry suburbs, the album sees the Glaswegian suburbanite rocker turn pastoral singer-songwriter and embrace the subtler ambient and acoustic textures”

Licks like one of my faves, Red House Painters, and vocals like a combination of Morrisey and James Taylor (yeah the bio sheet told the truth) with gorgeous textures and instrumental treatments make this a very listenable record. I’ve played it a few times, now, and reckon I’ll do it at least a few more, it just might wind up in the truck.

I’ve got one bitch with this one. The vocals are buried in the the lush production so deeply that I have to concentrate to make them out. My system is pretty well tuned, so it could be my ears, I’ll have to let you decide. After a few plays, I’m just starting to catch how deep and thoughtful the lyrics are.

At least it’s a good trick to keep me listening! All in all, I’d say 7 out of 10 on this one, as a “snap judgement.” Mark the three to the buried vocals. Other than that, I love it!