SINGLE REVIEW: JULIAN TAYLOR - DRIVE

The second time that #TEAMw21 saw Julian Taylor play The Water Rats, using a magnificently home grown band assembled by Michele Stodart, he slipped into the conversation that this particular combo were going to be recording material together. The first result of this is "Drive", and for an artist whose catalogue is already as wide as it is excellently curated, this new addition will fit in very nicely.

Each time we have crossed paths with Julian he always exudes an air of spiritual calmness, a quality sadly lacking in the world today, and "Drive" in its own way seeks to address this.

There is a musical calmness in Julian's sound for this new venture, with his UK touring band, Michele Stodart on bass, Raevennan Husbandes on guitar, and Sian Monaghan on drums being joined by Jimmy Bowskill’s expert fiddle and pedal steel flourishes, the fiddle especially all but steals the show at certain points.

Lyrically, we find Julian somewhat bemused by the current state of the world

"Welcome to the weird

How the hell did we get here?

Seems like all decency’s disappeared

We’re all living in fear

Or even worse, we don’t care

About anyone else’s cross to bear"

Rather than attribute any blame Julian suggest ways in which we could get back on track. Verse three forinstance

"We’re all trying to escape but only love conquer’s hate

Take a look at the code of Handsome Lake"

A quick google check found the above referring to the Seneca Prophet -  preaching temperance, a strict moral code, but there are also subsequent verses alluding to Martin Luther King and Maya Angelou who equally operated in troubled times.

The chorus is where the fiddle reigns supreme but also shows Julian in his own inimitable way trying to turn the tide.

"Tonight, I’m gonna keep on riding

Ride until the morning

Tonight, I’m gonna keep on writing

Right until the morning

‘Til I write what I wanna share"

This single does have a rare feature in that the title of the song is not actually referenced in the lyrics at any point, it is more the summation of all the sentiments expressed there, that we need to "Drive" on, to find a better way. If it does nothing more than get people to ask then it has already succeeded in its own small way.

As an opening salvo it is fascinating, there is a natural warmth and synergy between the various players that shines through, and with Julian at the forefront, an advocate for mutual peace love and understanding, it can only be a good thing surely.