Keeping it real with tales from a very different age

MODERN technology means many musicians can now record albums at home to a quality that often matches those created in state-of-the-art recording studios.

It also helps if the artist is equipped with a batch of top drawer songs.

John Northfield is such an artist. The Wexford based songwriter has been writing and recording his own songs for many years now but the release of his debut album, ‘Different Age’, marks the first time he has put out an album of his own material into the public domain.

A remarkable aspect of the album is that it was recorded by Northfield at his home on a hard disk recorder. He performed all the vocals, and played all the instruments on the CD himself, and built the accompaniment up in overdubs on top of drums tracks that he programmed on computer.

The album was mixed and mastered by Brendan Carthy in Orchard Recording Studio in Enniscorthy.

The title track is a fantastic broody, jazz-soaked tune that also embraces the blues.

There is a wonderful laid back feel to the opener that hints at great things to come.

Fans of Steely Dan will find themselves in familiar territory here.

Northfield has a wonderful tone and timbre to his voice that adds to the commercial appeal of the songs.

Lyrics such as ‘that old haunting tune from a different age’, are the kind that will resonate with most listeners.

‘Away’ begins with a lovely percussive beat created with what sounds like a shaker and the way Northfield builds the accompaniment up as the track progresses is brilliant.

A wonderful aspect to his songwriting is how he sometimes takes the listener on an unexpected path.

Where one expects the vocal melody to go up in register it goes down and that makes songs like this particular track all the more appealing.

There is a lovely clean electric guitar sound on the lead break which adds greatly to the track.

Northfield’s playing on the album is sublime throughout and he adds in just the right amount of embellishment for each track.

This song was inspired about uneasy feelings the artist experienced upon reading about people fleeing persecution. It’s thought-provoking subject matter set to a wonderful music tapestry.

‘Grace of Your Heart’ is a love song albeit with some subtle twists.

Northfield uses backing vocals to very good effect because they come in at exactly the right moment and aren’t overdone.

‘On The Blue Side’ is one of my favourite songs on the album.

It embraces the jazz side of the blues genre and it’s easy to picture a smoky, dim-lit speak easy in full swing.

It’s a track that wouldn’t be out of place on a Joe Bonamassa or Stevie Ray Vaughan album.

There are hints of Squeeze to ‘Don’t Mind Me’ which is a lovely mid-tempo funky pop tune.

There is a repetitive guitar riff that catches the listener’s attention from the off.

The introduction and style of the backing vocals towards the end of the song is also very effective.

‘Hold On To The Tide’ sees Northfield embrace his reggae side. However, his vocal style ensures that his own identity is stamped all over the track regardless of whether or not it’s a familiar genre.

In many ways it’s a track that is very apt given the current pandemic crisis as it advises people to persevere through the bad times because things will get better.

There is a jazz feel throughout the album and it’s exemplified on tracks likes ‘I Saw You Crying’ and ‘Last Summer’ - the latter of which is an upbeat poppy number.

‘Something Better’ is another stand-out track on the album. The most up-tempo track on offer it has an immensely catchy chorus and Northfield flexes his guitar playing muscles on the solo.

‘Dreaming of Getting Better’ is another personal favourite. It’s a track that brings to mind acts like Del Amitri and Chris Rea.

Northfield is a storyteller in the truest sense and that fact is highlighted to perfection on tracks like this.

‘Something’s Got to Give’ is another love song and its mood is enhanced by the fantastic bass line in which the artist utilises some subtle note bends to extremely good affect.

The song also culminates with a fantastic guitar solo.

The overall sound on the album is brilliant with a crisp clarity enhancing the inherent appeal of the songs.

‘Last Person Leaving’ is dedicated to the artist’s ‘wonderfully talented and much missed older brother’, Jim.

It’s a fantastic, jazzy waltz and provides the ideal way to close out what is a fantastic collection of songs from a very talented songwriter.