Independent (label)
20 October 2017 (released)
21 October 2017
I don’t think James Litherland gets the credit he is due. In the past I have known him as a founding member of Colosseum, he was with Mogul Thrash and also played alongside Long John Baldry, Leo Sayer, Alexis Korner and Stevie Marriot.
But I have never really heard his Blues playing or his more contemplative side and this album actually came as a bit of a revelation.
His voice is warm and inviting, his guitar playing understated and very easy on the ear but it is really his songwriting that is what sets him apart from the pack 0 a fine sense of melody but, more importantly, themes and stories he wants to tell.
From the opening track, ‘What You Want’ he is talking in a very personal voice and this continues on the title track which really has a groove to it in a Southern rock style.
He can get deep into the heart with his more considered numbers such as close ‘Freedom Road’ which really puts over feeling of new found love without getting mushy or saccharine.
‘At Least I Didn’t Bore You’ has a jaunty and funky groove to it, talking to anyone who has had a long term marriage/relationship.
As the title suggests ‘Unconditional Love’ is a beautiful love song and given the right exposure could easily become ‘the’ couples song – it is also rather lovely with a great sax solo from Nick Pentalow.
All told, a lovely, low key and really well played album and a rather fine discovery on a wintry Saturday afternoon.
