Josh Brough - “Silver and Gold”

UK-based Josh Brough has just sent us the delightfully raw and stripped-back “Silver and Gold,” a tune that explores commitment issues in long-term relationships.

The track opens with some exquisitely finger-plucked acoustic guitar, setting up the listener with an extremely chill vibe before the vocals begin. We’ve often said that the best folk songs are those that sound as though they are being played in the same room that you are listening. And the overall sound here is very intimate, as though Brough has just popped by your house, paused your Netflix, and started playing for you.

Of course, with an arrangement this sparse, the most important ingredient is often the vocal. And we are very pleased to inform you that Brough’s voice is reminiscent of the great Gregory Alan Isakov– if you have ever read our blog, you’ll already know that he happens to be one of our favorite folk artists of all time. In the background, “Silver and Gold” has been gently padded with a synthy ambience, leaving the entire sound a touch dreamy and ethereal.

“Silver and Gold” was entirely self-produced in Brough’s parents’ garden shed, and it beholds a purity and honesty that one can only find within the finest offerings of the indie folk genre; however, the only real evidence of lo-fi is the slight room noise at the track’s inception– the production is otherwise studio quality and we marvel at Brough’s keen ear and craft.

We ended up loving this song so much that we went on a mission to discover more of Brough’s work. And if these raw, sparsely populated numbers aren’t your thing, you’ll be pleased to know that he’s previously released “Maybe Today,” a slightly more upbeat, folksy tune with a well-rounded, full band arrangement. The track is complete with brushed drums and thick bass, but the star of the show is, of course, Brough’s vocal, which we hope to hear much more of in the future.

-HD