Fri Nov 17, 2017

This is a simply lovely album from a UK outfit with a blues-cum-Americana outlook, feel and beauty. Fronted by guitarist and songwriter Richard Townend, the band is tightly controlled with hints of seventies US, West Coast, Laurel Canyon sounds and sensibilities.

In many ways this has a Knopfleresque feel but, having been listening to this outfit for some years now, it is surely time to shrug aside that sort of thinking. Maybe, and probably inevitably, Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits have been influences and interests back in the past, but Townend has clearly slipped off that yolk and moved on with his own distinctive style and delicious delivery.

Townend is a mighty clever lyricist, a guy who can work a theme and run a rippling roll of fretwork and melody to match the thinking. The result is a genuinely individual and engaging musical take and outlook. I must confess to being a fan and advocate of this band and its music. With ‘God Bless America’ it seems evident that they have moved ahead, running onto a new path of irresistible modern, top-notch music, always with a blues edge at heart but aided by a keen eye towards the  Americana future. This is a true delight, an album to savor.

For more on Richard Townend and The Mighty Bosscats visit https://www.richardtownend.com/