I love American contemporary folk music but there’s been too few great new records released over the past few years. Ryan Adams, Josh Rouse and the late, lamented Rainer are some of the best albums I’ve heard, that is until this little beauty arrived through my door. Recorded on Thurston Moor’s Ectstatic Peace label (and produced by Lee Ranaldo) James Jackson Toth, aka Wooden Wand, has produced a minor contemporary folk classic.

The opening track ‘The Pushers’ is about as explosive as you can get for a folk song. The quiet opening quickly turns into a dark and deathly melodic dirge with Roth in assertive vocal mode backed by a glorious backing vocal from Jessica Toth. Next track ‘In A Bucket’ is a lighter, wandering tune with distant guitar chords and another killer melody. ‘Spitting At The Cameras’ is stripped down folk at its very best. Once again Jessica Thoth’s backing vocal is there to help take this song to an even higher level. ‘Delia’ is a fascinating song with beautifully understated Toth vocal underpinned by the most haunting and beautiful guitar refrain, and more superb background vocals. It’s a distinctive and unusual song and one of the albums best highlights. Then there’s the deep bass vibe of ‘We Must Also Love The Thieves’ which is carried by a beautifully contemplative vocal, shimmering guitar passages, and a melody made in folk heaven. ‘The Invisible Children’ takes a more conventional country folk route and conversational vocal style. It’s another winner… ‘Blood’ is a gorgeous acoustic duet featuring both Toths, wandering piano notes and subtle guitar that creeps in periodically. This is a song that just keeps spinning around in one’s head, and there’s little one can do to stop it. Best of the rest includes the narrative, monotone and melancholy ‘Future Dream,’ the wistful tones of ‘James & The Quiet, and concluding delicate and very moving Wired To The Sky featuring another delightful Toth duet.

If you’re a fan of contemporary folk music, then you must own this album. It’s really that simple.

4.5/5