Beyond The Reservoir
Howling Turtle, 2022
8/10
Listen to Beyond The Reservoir
The Toronto singer-songwriter Julian Taylor returns with another very personal batch of tunes, where autobiographical stories and a rare vulnerability comes with help from Derek Downham (piano), Gene Diabo (drums) and Barry Diabo (bass), plus guest spots.
“Moonlight” opens the listen with a warm, emotive acoustic guitar presence amid soothing harmonies and a slight jangle alongside the aching pedal steel, and “Murder 13” follows with stirring Americana that populated with vivid storytelling and a very eloquent appeal.
“Seeds” lands at the halfway point and is a fuller version of roots rock that showcases Taylor’s expressive pipes alongside graceful keys and crisp drums, while “Stolen Lands” offers a lush and darker peek at very cautious and poetic song craft.
Deeper into the back half, the stirring strings of “Moving” is one of the most intimate tracks, where so much beauty enters, and “100 Proof” exits with a more upbeat selection that’s steeped in retro-folk nods that we could never tire of.
Sometimes a bleak affair, Taylor’s heartfelt, soulful and very rich formula makes each selection here a song you can lost in and revisit often.
Travels well with: Scott Clay- Let It All Lay Bare; Rachel McIntyre Smith- Glory Daze