Brad Wilson - “It’s Only Blood”
Photo by Tri
New Jersey-based singer-songwriter Brad Wilson has just released the genuinely warm and mesmerizing sounds of “It’s Only Blood.”
It should come as absolutely no surprise that Wilson has won us over with his music; with “It’s Only Blood,” he has two things going for him: impeccable craft and the glory of analogue outboard gear. The tune was recorded to tape at LA’s 64 Sound and produced by Jon Gilbert (Mt. Joy, Flipturn, Adam Melchor), resulting in a remarkably thick and classic sound that is not often present in modern recordings.
Pressing play reveals a raw and stripped-back arrangement, solely populated by an acoustic guitar. Wilson’s vocal soon arrives with a performance so intimate that it sounds as though he’s in the room with you. His voice is moderately reminiscent of artists such as Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Rufus Wainwright, and we are instantly drawn into his songwriting, awaiting each new line of lyrics.
As the song enters is gradual crescendo, our ears are met with some soft keys and gentle percussive elements, such as tambourine and shaker, which provide forward momentum as well as foreshadowing for the ensuing full-band elevation. And by the ninety-second mark, we are suddenly amidst a rhythm section that has been dipped in the golden compression of yesteryear– it is impossible not to lose yourself completely inside of this glorious sound.
Highlights within “It’s Only Blood” include some enchanting vocal harmonies, as well as a brief yet tasteful guitar solo. The entire back end has been padded by the divine swells of a pipe organ, offering generous portions of ear candy with each new listen. If this tune is any indication as to what the rest of Wilson’s forthcoming EP, Chasing Ghosts, has in store, then he might as well take our money right now.
-HD