Junction2Music (label)
19 January 2012 (released)
19 January 2012
It shouldn't be patronising if I say that a new British Blues player who doesn't sit anywhere near the Oli Brown/Danny Bryant/Aynsley Lister axis of guitar Blues is guaranteed to get a listen here. Will Wilde is a real breath of fresh air (probably blown from his harmonica).
His blurb describes him as a young Blues/soul singer/harmonica player and he has an excellent, clean vocal style as well as some strong chops on the harp as well as being a fine songwriter in the classic style.
The thing that comes over here, in huge dollops, is just how much he seems to enjoy singing and playing . He writes soul as well as Blues and the funkier material got these old bones up and shaking it but I never got the feeling that he was married to one form or in danger of diversifying too much.
The album's opener 'Angel Came Down' kicks off with a howl and a very English vocal over some funky guitar but when it kicks into gear you can get the comparisons with early Rod Stewart - when he had a voice and before he lost his soul. Wilde pleads with a full throaty rasp but his harmonica playing is every bit as strong -one hell of an opener. 'Waste My Life Away' has a stunning funky bassline and another terrific vocal and then 'No No No' comes along like a piece of fluffy 50's doo-wop but he has almost too much power in his voice just as you expect a Dion or similar high-range voice. 'Blues Is My First Love' features Dani Wilde and production by Mike Vernon and I have already marked it as one of the funkiest numbers I've heard in years. Sister Dani sounding great alongside her brother was a nice surprise.
The only track on the album that really doesn't do it for me is probably the one he has most personal investment in. 'HLS' is a straightforward diatribe against Huntingdon Life Sciences and I was a little taken aback by the lack of subtlety in the track. Politics aside, he may alienate by his bluntness and in my opinion he has missed a chance.
Overall, a terrific album - if you dig the Blues and soul it works on a lot of levels.
