Saving Grace – the new album from Brightlingsea-based husband and wife blues rock duo When Rivers Meet (WRM) is launched on November 19 – and Brightlingsea Info has had a sneak preview.
Grace and Aaron Bond’s second album, recorded in Suffolk, follows a year after their debut offering, We Fly Free and is released as the pair have been gigging around the UK to rave reviews. With Grace on lead vocals, mandolin and violin, and Aaron on guitar and vocals, the album also features Adam Bowers on bass, drums, keyboards and trumpet.
Brightlingsea Info asked local blues enthusiast and bassist Dave Griffiths – currently playing in local band Vic & the Vapour Rubs (appearing at the Railway Tavern on December 5) – to take a listen to the new album . Here’s his pick of the 12 tracks:
• Testify. This song (with accompanying video) sounds good. Strong and punchy. The new bass/keyboards/drums components really give this song some drive. Aaron always looked cute with his single bass drum/pedal accompaniment, but a full kit really helps on this song.• Eye of a Hurricane (Friend of Mine Pt 2). This one has a haunting feel, with intriguing lyrics and a lovely chorus and harmonies by Grace. This song has really benefited from good production with lots of space between the instruments and vocals. I’ll listen to this one again.• Talking In My Sleep – WRM go back to their roots with simple production, really good audio separation, and their signature harmonised duets. Very pared back and another keeper.
WRM set a record first earlier this year when they became the first-ever artist or band to win four awards at the UK Blues Awards including “Blues Band of the Year,” “Blues Album of the Year,” “Emerging Blues Artist of the Year,” and “Most Inspirational Online Performance of the Year.” WRM were also voted “Best New Band” by the listeners of Planet Rock at the radio station’s The Rocks Awards.
Next year WRM will undertake a 17-venue headline tour, including a gig at Colchester Arts Centre on April 29. Saving Grace – and the single from the album, Testify – are available from https://smarturl.it/whenriversmeet.
