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WILLIAM TOPLEY & THE SEA GYPSIES

WATER TAXI

Emerging from the swamps of The Blessing and ploughing through the rocky Blues of his solo albums, William Topley delivers an album of acoustic tunes dripping with imagery from across the globe. Anchored by William’s unique vocal, once praised by legendary Muscle Shoals producer Barry Beckett as “the best he’d ever worked with”, and accompanied by the muscular acoustic guitar of long time musical associate Luke Brighty with additional vocals and sterling support from Dorie Jackson, Water Taxi lures you into a world of acoustic wonder.

The track listing features something old, lots of new and all wrapped up in lush vocals, tight harmonies and rich guitar plucking to give you a well rounded and substantial musical feast. Once again William draws on his much travelled past and veracious appetite for new places and adventures to take the listener on a journey that will transport you from the mundane and humdrum to exotic climes with dangerous women and liquor, without leaving the comfort of your own home.

Water Taxi features acoustic versions of two of William’s back catalogue namely Delta Rain from The Blessing’s first record Prince of Deep Water and Sweetheart from their second record, Locusts and Wild Honey, which will be familiar to current William fans. The album starts with Hummingbird (co-write with leading Nashville writer Daryl Burgess), followed by Stony Ground with a lyric derived from a window staring moment from the back of William’s house. Water Taxi relates the tale of William’s journeys from the Bahamas to Denver and Trouble Comes At Night is a diary from the last band tour he undertook in the US. Spanish Waters continues William’s exploration of John Masefield’s poetry and Watch The Wall is another Hemmingway style adventure, co-written with Toby Tyler. After Delta Rain, I’ll Be Gone features Luke on Spanish guitar and the mood abruptly shifts for Luck Don’t Change, which is a minute of Acapella, which should be longer. Don’t Do That No More is another co-write with Gary Nicholson and Delbert McLinton, which runs into Sweetheart and brings the album to a conclusion.

Take time out from the hustle and bustle, sit back and enjoy an album, which for once deserves to be listened to as a whole. It’s 45 minutes of time well spent.