A heart-wrenching tale of the search for redemption, with a calescent riff to match, John Wesley’s “Mary Will” is for everyone who ever worried they’d never overcome the mistakes of the past. Here, we find someone struggling under the impossible weight of an unspoken secret. Lost and alone, he happens upon a statue of Mary — and her eyes offer something unexpected: white depths of forgiveness, some long-hoped-for sense of solace.
Wesley creates a dark world unto its own, but also a galvanizing shard to hope, with “Mary Will” — a key track off Disconnect, the singer/guitarist’s just-released follow up to 2011’s Lilypad Suite. In some ways, it’s not unlike Porcupine Tree and Marillion, a pair of bands he’s become associated with, in that there is a broad narrative sweep amid these raw, confessional lyrics. But Wesley has his own voice, both vocally and instrumentally. There’s a reason he’s so often worked with those standard-bearer groups: Wesley has the goods.
Wesley’s collaborations with Steven Wilson are highlighted by work on both In Absentia and Fear of the Blank Planet, issued by the now-dormant Porcupine in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Wesley’s 2005 release Shiver was also mixed by Wilson. He’s set to appear in May as the opener for Blackfield’s only U.S. show, a date that will also mark Wilson’s final appearance with the group.
Previous to that, Wesley toured as an opening act for Marillion in the 1990s, collaborated extensively on former frontman Fish’s 2001 album Fellini Days, and has also worked with the band’s Steve Hogarth and Steve Rothery, along the way.
[amazon_enhanced asin=”B00I8N2BLC” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B00006IU73″ container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B0058WFNRK” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B00005KKAZ” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B008FVZHKO” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /]
- Nick DeRiso’s Best of 2015 (Rock + Pop): Death Cab for Cutie, Joe Jackson, Toto + Others - January 18, 2016
- Nick DeRiso’s Best of 2015 (Blues, Jazz + R&B): Boz Scaggs, Gavin Harrison, Alabama Shakes - January 10, 2016
- Nick DeRiso’s Best of 2015 (Reissues + Live): John Oates, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Faces + others - January 7, 2016
