Luke Reynolds has been one of my favorite accidental discoveries. I saw him with his former group Blue Merle when they opened for one of my favorite bands about 10 years ago. The musical performance was astonishing, and Reynolds an evocative vocalist and guitarist.
Flash forward to 2008, when Luke Reynolds issued an electric album under the name Pictures and Sound. There was also a solo effort in 2010, and work as a sideman with the band Guster. However, the forthcoming release After The Flood has piqued my interest more than any effort by Reynolds since the Blue Merle album Burning in the Sun.
If “Just A Little Further” is a fair representation of the November 18, 2014 release, the project has been well work the wait. This preview track finds Reynolds calling on his musical travels for guidance, offering a funky Memphis shuffle with both a hint of J.J. Cale and a dash of Mark Knopfler. Reynolds’ vocals are appropriately evocative and grizzled, aptly supporting the song and conveying its vivid lyrics. The listener is brought in on Reynolds’ journey more as a fellow traveler than observer.
Part of the magic of the song is Reynolds’ coproduction with Brad Bivens. Their casting of musicians is deeply effective. Still, the clear driver of the song is Luke Reynolds’ timeless songwriting. I can’t wait to explore Reynolds’ full canvas of colors on After The Flood.
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- Alex E. Chavez – ‘Sonorous Present’ (2024) - October 27, 2024
