Long Way To Go
Confetti Park, 2023
8/10
The singer-songwriter Katy Hobgood Ray brings along an excellent cast of musicians to these very thoughtful songs that surround themes of a solo traveler longing for adventure and new horizons, as well as the ups and downs of relationships and moving on.
“Flying Down The Road” starts the listen with the thumping drums and warm guitar complementing Ray’s pretty pipes in the cozy, country-rock climate, and “Lola Jean” follows with swirling guitars and rugged yet melodic rootsy ideas that are breezy and memorable.
“Morning Glory” arrives at the halfway point and emits a soothing intimacy with some charming twang, while “One Steel Kiss” recruits a very poetic spirit that welcomes Sean Carey’s well timed harmonica amid the sublime dreaminess.
Closer to the end, the cautious “Tonight’s The Night” uses crisp drums and soulful backing vocals for the ethereal album highlight and “Baby I’m Gone” exits with a bit more ruggedness thanks to the lively rhythm section and driving Americana that’s heartfelt.
A really enjoyable and timeless listen that embraces Americana, roots, country and folk ideas, the sparing use of cello and mandolin certainly only add to the experience of an excellent body of work from Katy Hobgood Ray.
Travels well with: Laura Zucker- Lifeline; Angela Easterling- Witness