Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit

Sometimes you can tell a lot about the sound of an album simply by reading the title and in the case of American singer songwriter Jonathan Wilson’s second album the title is a very illustrative one indeed. ‘Gentle Spirit’ is an album in which the pace rarely rises above sedate and is a peacefully soothing album of lullabies and lilting soft country rock perfect for late night listening.

Released on Bella Union, a label that excels in richly melodic acoustic based American rock acts, ‘Gentle Spirit’ sees Jonathan Wilson, with the help of some fellow Laurel Canyon based luminaries in the form of Jonathan Rice and Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes amongst others, channelling the spirit and sounds of early seventies American acoustic soft rock. The album is deeply old fashioned but strangely in 2011 it is perhaps deeply fashionable, Wilson’s music certainly sits well alongside the likes of Fleet Foxes and Midlake - two other bands on the Bella Union label.

There is no doubt that Wilson has a supreme gift for song craft and there are some gorgeous melodies on ‘Gentle Spirit’ the lovely atmospheric folk of the title track and the softly whispered vocals and languid vibe of ‘Can We Really Party Today?’ both showcase a songwriter with a great grasp of atmospherics and dynamics as the songs grow and build - all the while embedding themselves in your brain. These tracks are both six minutes long but never manage to outstay their welcome; this is not something that can be said about other tracks, however, on an album that is incredibly long. Although it is frequently beautiful listening to the album in full is an arduous but ultimately rewarding process that would test the patience of even the most ardent fan of rootsy Americana.
Too many songs on the record have promising beginnings built on intricate folksy melodies before degenerating into a ponderous, interminable rut of needless noodly guitar solos and repetition, at least half the album is over 6 minutes long and you do get the impression that a bit of editing would improve the album no end as it is clear that Wilson has the potential to be a real classic American songwriter in that rich tradition of acoustic based American musicians.

‘Gentle Spirit’ may not be an album high on thrills, or indeed on innovation and progression but there is a certain pleasant charm to its laidback soft grooves and there is certainly nothing wrong with pastiche and revivalism when it is done as classily as it is here, let’s just hope that next time he reins in those excesses that blight an otherwise lovely album.