Wesley, John: a way you'll never be

To many John Wesley is that guy who played live with Porcupine Tree, or who was in Fish's band for a bit, or who seems to open for Marillion every now and again. However since 1994 the guitarist, singer and songwriter has released a succession of impressive and varied solo albums, a way you'll never be (all lower case), his ninth. Often seen as a singer-songwriter in a biting Americana mould in his early days, Wesley has over the years, and not too surprisingly given who he has collaborated with and performed alongside, progressively become more progressive, 2014's quite excellent Disconnected one of the prog highlights of that year. Personally, having encountered him way back when he opened for Marillion on their Brave tour in '94, his debut Under The Red And White Sky album has long been my Wesley of choice and a record I've continually revisited over the years. Interestingly a way you'll never be feels like a step into the past, just as much as it is a confident journey into the future, the feel that Wesley has tapped into the same observations on society (or lack of society) as he did just over 20 years ago and again channeled it into the emotions of his music and words. For anyone that's been with him since his early solo days, it's as though someone took Under The Red And White Sky and infused it with a mighty, beating, prog heart.

In many ways, even though he has presented his music in a variety of guises, Wesley has always had signature sound, biting guitar, passionate but jaggedly smooth vocals and lyrics that you need to delve into, while always understanding that they're talking about the world you can, for better or worse, relate to. This album is no different, and yet for all that Disconnected maybe progged things up more than Wesley had before, here it's as though that singer-songwriter style of old is now being driven in a dark, almost prog metal vehicle; reaching its destination with power, passion and real intent.

Across the album the emotions are raw, the delivery powerful and the sentiments completely believable. A perfect balance of complex, engaging, enigmatic, harsh and soothing found as the instrumental sections cascade intensely. It makes for a collections of songs that seem to evolve and grow as you get under their skin and as they gnaw eagerly at your subconscious. Backed quite superbly by bassist Sean Malone and drummer Mark Prator, every twist and turn proves vital and controlled, yet with heart and soul obviously poured in to every note, word and beat, the organic manner in which this album hits you, really is quite something to behold.

Naming favourites songs is pointless, because there isn't a dip in quality or atmosphere throughout. Instead, if you like any of the previous work John Wesley has done in bands, or as a solo artist, or indeed you find modern thinking progressive rock that isn't afraid to know when to go for the throat rather than try to impress with technique (although there's plenty of that too, if it's your thing), a way you'll never be is exactly what you'll want to aspire to.

Track Listing
1. by the light of a sun
2. a way you'll never be
3. to outrun the light
4. the revolutionist
5. nada
6. the silence in coffee
7. unsafe space
8. sun.a.rose
9. epic
10. pointless endeavors

Added: November 16th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: John Wesley online
Hits: 2671
Language: english

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