FRoots "... the healing qualities of landscape and the sense of home , space and spiritual identity at the heart of the album is perfectly encapsulated by the expansive , epic 'Walking Through Ithonside '. Colin Irwin
* * * * Songlines
" JJ carries some great traditional material here with his big , heroic way of voicing a song _--- Newlyn Town , Polly on the Shore and a beautiful Rocks of Bawn are all big hitters ". Tim Cummings
* * * * Rock and Reel "... a magnificiently dark and brooding work.....one of the folk albums of the year". Jeremy Searle
Taplas "... an intensely moving collection of old and new songs...with a wonderful masculine use of backing vocals ..." Caroline John
Album of the Week , Celtic Music Radio
"... one of the most beautiful and haunting albums I have heard in a long time..." Chris Baxter, Radio Leicester
Eamon Friel , BBC Northern Ireland picks "Rocks of Bawn" as one of his tracks of the year
The on-line booklet to accompany RISING ROAD, John Jones's new solo album, can be accessed at the following link: booklet
Oysterband’s John Jones is going back to his roots with his debut solo CD, Rising Road. After 30 years with Oysterband, John has teamed up with friends old and new to explore and re-invent some of the classic traditional songs he loved in his youth, which stand alongside several beautiful, self-written tracks.
The idea for the album came about when, on a short break from Oysterband a few years ago, John toured alongside his friends Benji Kirkpatrick (Bellowhead, Faustus) and Seth Lakeman. The collaboration worked so well that a seed was planted. Four years later, Rising Road was born. The album features contributions from Seth and Benji, as well as Ian Keary (banjo/dulcimer), Rowan Godel (vocals), Sophie Walsh (Harp), Dil Davies (Percussion and drums) Francois Deville (Pedal Steel Guitar) and Alan Prosser (Guitars).
John has a great love of the British countryside, and he had always felt that traditional songs go hand-in-hand with the landscape, so he wanted to choose songs which reflect this: “A lot of the songs I’m singing are traditional. I’m not a very urban animal; I feel folk music to be rural and open. When I sing, I’m visualising the story, and the landscape is a big part of that. Much of this album is an imaginative retake on songs I’ve known for years. I’ve tried to look at the traditonal songs very simply, and I’ve chosen ones that have a story for me, a close attachment.”
The album is more pared-down than the usual big, bold Oysterband sound, with simpler, more understated arrangements. But this doesn’t mean that the tracks lack sophistication, as John still brings his full range of influences to bear. The traditional song Polly on the Shore, for example, gets a brilliant, slightly sinister acapella re-working which sounds more redolent of the American south than the British countryside. “I had been listening to some of Alan Lomax’s American prison farm recordings, and that percussive approach of the work song just seemed right.”
While Rising Road contains 7 traditional songs, including the mellow, reflective Rocks of Bawn, the spare, poignant Newlyn Town and the stirring, shanty-flavoured Fire Merengo, there are also 5 new songs written by John. And, as with the traditional tracks, “Some of the songs I’ve written for the album have a real sense of place,” he says. Amongst these is Walking Through Ithonside, which reflects on exploring the wild, untamed Welsh countryside where he lives. This re-connection of the music and the landscape has been very important in the genesis of Rising Road - the album was even given a short sneak preview tour in the spring, which saw John WALKING from his home in the Welsh borders to all the venues along the way, ending up at Oysterband’s Big Session festival in Leicester – a total of almost 200 miles. The album’s themes (and title!) were given full realisation in a few weeks on the road, where fans, friends and fellow musicians joined John for both the walking and the gigs. Part endurance test, part completely mad idea, and part homage to the countryside he loves, the tour really helped him to crystallise his thinking about the new album.
“I’ve spent so much of my working life travelling, but it’s mostly been sitting in a tour bus. I’m forever looking out of the window, following the shapes of the hills as they go past and wondering what it would be like to be out there,” John says. The tour idea and album evolved almost as twin projects, and everyone involved loved the experience so much that John hopes to do a similar tour to promote Rising Road later in the year.
So after 30 years in music, why is this John’s first solo album? ”The other members of the band have often gone off and done separate things, but it’s always been difficult for me as the singer, as my voice is attached to the emotional weight of Oysterband’s music,” John explains. “With the Rising Road project, I’ve really enjoyed being able to express what I do and who I am when I’m not fronting Oysterband.”
John Jones track 'Walking Through Ithonside' to be aired on Merlin's Magical Music Moments; Wednesday 4th November 2009. Live on air; on Soundart Radio 102.5 fm 20.30 - 22.00 pm GMT. Probably the most eclectic mix of music currently on air. The full play list is now up on my blog.
Thanks for tonight in Derby, John. You cheered me up no end, certainly the highlight of my life as of late - it has been far too long since I last saw you guys. Just listening to your album now, I'm liking what I'm hearing so far. <3
John Jones track 'Searching For Lambs' to be aired on Merlin's Magical Music Moments; Wednesday 7th October 2009. Live on air on Soundart Radio 102.5 fm 20.30 - 22.00 pm GMT. Tonight we re-vist the fabulous Shrewsbury Folk Festival held over the August Bank Holiday. The full play list is now up on my blog.
Wanted you to know, recently acquired my copy or Rising Road . I don't know what I was expecting or hoping for, but it has exceeded any notions i might have had. Simply beautiful and I find myself listening to and loving it more ( if that's possible )
Brilliant gig last night, thanks, and what a great venue. How I wish I didn't have to get up so early............ The best bit was seeing Rowan sing with you - tell her to check her MySpace - she might find quite a few new friends waiting for her ;)
Tune in and turn on. Episode 18 features the long awaited return of Ben Folke Thomas, from his hidden island lair to continue his evil plans to take over the world, an interview with, performance by, exclusive album track play, and give away, by noir-folkists 'Juniper Leaf', and many more goodly musical gifts to be bestowed upon you dear listener by the noble Lantern Players.
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Hi John Just got your album by mail yesterday and a great cd with some nice traditional arranged tracks and then some brilliant tracks composed by you.
Just received RISING ROAD today, only one day after it's release in the UK. Now, that I've heard the album in full length for the very first time, I have to say, that I'm very amazed. This is simply the best album that I've heard throughout the year. I am very proud to be probably the first german fan who owns this record. So I can't wait to see you performing this wonderful stuff live in Germany in 2010 (hopefuly)
