The Ridge
Howling Turtle, 2020
9/10
A Canadian troubadour with a penchant for intimacy in his stirring song craft, Julian Taylor delivers with a rich, heartfelt ability where a fiddle, cello and pedal steel are used meticulously and effectively.
Taylor starts the album strong with the rhythmic and organic title track, where keys, percussion and guitar make an impression as backing female vocals accent the alt-country setting, and the strong song craft continues to the emotive “Human Race” as his expressive vocals suit the rootsy, fiddle friendly environment well.
Even though there’s just 8 tracks, Taylor makes each one count, including the warm piano and fuller percussion of “Over The Moon”, while “Ballad Of A Young Troubadour” finds a busier place to reside amid some tribal ideas. “Be With You”, a late listen highlight, then offers a romantic and moving peek into timeless folk sounds.
Late in the listen, “Love Enough” recruits a festive spirit with its playful delivery where Taylor offers Tex-Mex influences, and the beat friendly “Ola, Let’s Dance” takes a turn into spoken word, alongside bright percussion and precise guitar work in the poetic exit to a very positive record.
Though he’s kept busy in recent years playing R&B, The Ridge is a firm leap into folk territory, where a soulfulness and nods to the ‘60s and ‘70s help cultivate a very introspective and strong storytelling effort as Taylor forges his own brand of Americana.
Travels well with: Greg Hawks- I Think It’s Time; Wyatt Edmondson- If I Don’t Try