Book Of Life
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
The debut album from the Memphis singer-songwriter Brian Blake, this concept album is packed with songs about Blake’s family and their history in the Liberty, Texas area, and they’re full of cautious detail and much warmth.
“Rich Fields In The Distance” starts the listen with Blake’s charming acoustic guitar and expressive storytelling guiding the folk meets Americana sound that’s quite gripping, and the title track follows with much beauty thanks to the pretty female backing vocals that complement the cozy mood.
In the middle, “Meant To Be” welcomes brushed drums and radiant fiddle to the country spirited landscape, while “New Year’s Day” showcases a strong attention to atmosphere in the richly played folk climate.
“Little Boys” and “Nothing Gold Can Stay” exit the listen, where the former is quite intimate and pairs precise strumming with emotive singing, and the latter finishes with aching pedal steel and intricate guitar amid Blake’s poetic pipes.
A great starting point for the troubadour, Blake’s meshing of Americana, folk and country makes for a very compelling listen, and the help from Chris Beall, Rich Brotherton, John Chipman and Betty Soo, among others, is certainly appreciated and well received, too.
Travels well with: M. Lockwood Porter- Communion In The Ashes; Angela Easterling- Witness