Reviewed by Niall Dunne

The first thing you notice when listening to the latest from this highly regarded Northumberland songsmith is the great sound quality. The album, co-produced by Graeme Duffin and Sandy Jones, with Gareth Davies-Jones himself, immediately sits up there happily with the kind of quality you'd expect from the likes of Martyn Joseph or Luka Bloom. However as with those artists, the sound seems to lose something when a drum beat is added. Songs such as "Borderland" and "Shoreline Of Ghosts" show that Gareth is very comfortable with what he does best - acoustic folk. His voice and guitar playing are more than capable of covering the space where a band would be on these songs. Not only that, they're actually better. "Butterfly" creates an intriguing picture of "a butterfly trapped in the underground." This actually comes with a side note on the album sleeve referring to the Trade Justice Movement. It's a powerful image and clearly illustrates Gareth's own feelings and involvement in promoting justice. The standout track though has to be "Cost". The backing vocals from Yvonne Lyon add so much to the track, but also mix really well with Gareth's own vocals. 'Water & Light' is another solid effort from the troubadour. It's fair to say that Gareth Davies-Jones really is as good as anyone out there in the crowded acoustic arena.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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