ALBUM : Danny And The Champions Of The World ‘What Kind Of Love’

Rating:

To really appreciate this Danny And The Champions Of The World album is to have followed the journey of Danny Wilson and his band over the last seven years, since the self-titled folksy debut. Since then the quality of output and maturity of sound has grown, but without taking itself to seriously or becoming introspective and earnest. This record is a brilliant execution of rock music by musicians with a passion for all things folk, blues and Americana. It is too easy to throw lazy name checks about, particularly when the genre is so rich with important artists, but this would be a welcome addition to the later works by Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty or Rod Stewart. It’s very impressive.

Album opener ‘Clear Water’ sets the pace nicely and ultimately leads us into a jam session that would be at home in an evangelical church in the southern states, such is its ability to move the listener… Literally. The subject matter of love and relationships has been a constant through the bands career and ‘This Is Not A Love Song’ is another impressive example of Wilson’s songwriting, backed by a fuller sound than ever before.

‘Precious Cargo’ is a swooping piece of ’70s Americana with a backing choir that adds a fullness and beauty to the track, punctuated with a saxophone break that again takes the song to another dimension, no mean accomplishment blending so much percussion and vocal layers.

While the main thread is always folk/country rock the album production does a stellar job introducing brass, stunning backing vocals and pedal steel seamlessly, no more so than on the title track. There is a positive energy in the tracks on the whole and a feel good summer vibe that reflects the hippy ’60s spirit that you suspect lurks not to deep within Wilson’s persona. The final track, The Sound Of A Train, has a jazzy sound and is another example of how thoughtfully put together the album is, and why it deserves to be a success.

DATCOTW are supporting this release with a national tour and it should transfer well to the live stage with its gorgeous vocal arrangement, multi instrumentals and absorbing melodies. In lesser hands this could easily be another disposable MOR record, but in these hands it’s one of the albums of the year so far.

What Kind Of Love is out now via Loose Music.

James Van Praag

James Van Praag

James Van Praag

Midlands music lover and frustrated journo. Loves gigs, new music and writing about it. Shamelessly addicted to B&S, MSP and pistachios @Jamesvp75
James Van Praag

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