Maverick

So scintillating that it sounds at times you could be forgiven for losing yourself completely

Originally from Glasgow, John upped sticks and left for sunnier climbs in Christchurch, New Zealand where he found himself living for a substantial period. Whilst there, he played an untold number of gigs which increased his experience of performing live. This being his third album, his large legion of fans will surely be delighted as well as those who have yet to hear his work.

With a faster beat than some on this twelve-track release, Carry Me Home includes some rambling picking which I’m sure every country fan appreciates and wouldn’t be out of place if played on a 1970s Dire Straits album. By the first few moments of Rakaia you seem to understand what John is all about;

Picking superiority. What seems like both an acoustic guitar and banjo, the instrumental work is certainly not wasted as they are the perfect accompaniment to John’s unmistakably croaky yet by all means enticing vocals. This track is that fine it should be recorded by either an East Nashville resident or one of the Austin-based bands as it certainly deserves to be heard by as many people as possible. A quite groovy tune it is, Nowhere To Go has both blues elements about it but has the advantage of keeping true to its country and Americana roots by revving the awesome button all the way up to eleven; a toe-tapper, crowd pleaser of a song it sure is.

As John spent quite a large amount of his life earning himself a substantial number of fans in New Zealand, I’m confident that if he relocated to the land of our American cousins further and even great success would be heading his way.

Russell Hills

Maverick Nov 09

Sunday Herald

Sunday Herald October 09

Americana UK

John Alexander plays acoustic blues steeped in the influence of everyone from Kelly Joe Phelps, Muddy Waters, John Martyn, Greg Brown and hints of Bruce Springsteen

Roots-blues played with passion, and recorded simply in an old church on the shores of Loch Torridon in the Scottish Highlands and a back room of a South Glasgow tenement flat see Alexander’s gritty vocal style aided by accomplished acoustic guitar picking. Plus, there is a little banjo as he repeatedly hits a noteworthy benchmark. A standard regularly achieved by the likes of Kelly Joe Phelps and UK folk blues act, Johnny Dickinson. Intimate and warm, Alexander produces a series of mighty tunes as with the ‘Going Gone’. Where his vocals possess shades of Springsteen on a good day and ‘Bridges Of Kings’ that captures the romantic beauty of where mountains meet the sea, sandy beaches and poetic imagery set to leave you transfixed.

Alexander, though Scottish through and through, had to travel to the other side of the world to New Zealand for the music that was in him to be nurtured and grow, and now it seems there is no limit to what he can do or where it may take him. Of the twelve self-penned songs ‘Early Rise’ steeped in slide guitar coupled with its persuasive melody emanating great calming qualities and a beauty you yearn to hear it again and again. Coupled the Dickinson-esque ‘Nowhere To Go’ and hot to go, guitar picked, banjo and harmony vocals boosted well textured ‘Rakaia’ are as good as it gets.

As an entire body of work ‘Rain For Sale’ has a great deal to offer — to the degree it would take a good number more lines than I have written to cover adequately. 

Maurice Hope 7 out of 10

www.americana-uk.com oct 09

Guitar & Bass Magazine

Guitar & Bass Magazine Dec 09

Roots.be Belgium Review

John Alexander is a roots and blues musician from Glasgow .  He lived a long time in New Zealand and is an avid traveler, including the US crossed.  His life and travels are documented here.  These songs were recorded in a remote church on the of Loch Torridon, a beautiful lake in the Scottish Highlands, and then some songs just in the back room of a Glasgow flat.

Acoustic sound paintings are part of his travel stories, dreamy and sober, with guitar, slide, a bass and a banjo. His weathered voice reflects about his life, drawn, but especially determined to survive. The opener "Making Waves" by the slide that sounds rough in act, but in the sequel "Skin" is the root element as a rootsy banjo eight ground should. In the extremely beautiful "Silver and Blue" the dark clouds move away and really what the sun breaks through. The travels of course brings with it nostalgia, and since then we get a significant portion of, or in the folk tinged "Carry Me Home" and the more Americana-oriented "Going Home".

Also what purer traditional country influences are found in some songs like " Bridge Of Kings " and the beautiful "Early Rise”.  The separate sounding "Sway" which also appears as a single, even has a catchy waltz rhythm.

John's influences to his own words: Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Dylan, Mark Knopfler, John Martyn, Greg Brown and John Butler Trio.  This is indeed evident in his strong narrative style of his lyrics and beautiful guitar work. His previous releases have been well received and these new recordings, it seems that a bigger breakthrough is imminent.  With "For Sale Rain" expresses John Alexander is well-folk, Americana and blues lovers. A singer-songwriter who sounds original in his approach and knows how to captivate his beautiful narrative style.

The PR man or woman the term "Dust Bowl Blues" for his music has found, hit the nail on the head, because that is the perfect name for this music, and the case gives the same atmosphere again deserted plains, long journeys, loneliness and homesickness. A perfect example of what our reviewers this is a "growth plate" call. The more spins, the better it sounds ... Convince yourself.

(RON)

---

John Alexander is een roots en bluesmuzikant uit het Schotse Glasgow. Hij leefde lange tijd in Nieuw Zeeland en is een fervent reiziger, die ondermeer de U.S doorkruiste. Over zijn leven en reizen in die plaatsen en zijn thuisland gaan zijn "vertellingen", gestileerd in blues, folk en Americana songs. Die songs werden voor deze cd opgenomen in een afgelegen kerkje aan de rand van Loch Torridon, een prachtig mooi meer in de Schotse Highlands, en enkele songs dan weer gewoon in een achterkamer van een flat in Glasgow.

Akoestische geluidsschilderijtjes zijn het kader voor zijn reisverhalen, dromerig en sober, voorzien van gitaar, slide, een staande bas en een banjo. Zijn verweerde stem weerspiegelt zowat zijn leven, getekend, maar vooral vastberaden te overleven. De opener "Making Waves" klinkt ruig door de slide die er in fungeert, maar in de opvolger "Skin" is het hoofdelement een banjo die als rootsy achtgrond dient. In het uiterst mooie "Silver en Blue" schuiven de donkere wolken zowaar wat weg en breekt de zon door. Het vele reizen brengt natuurlijk heimwee met zich mee, en daar krijgen we vervolgens een flinke portie van, in respectievelijk het folkgetinte "Carry Me Home" en het meer Americana gerichte "Going Home".

Ook wat puurdere traditionele country invloeden vinden we terug in enkele songs zoals "Bridge Of Kings" en het prachtige "Early Rise". Het apart klinkende "Sway" dat overigens ook als single verschijnt, heeft zelfs een aanstekelijk walsritme. John's invloeden zijn naar eigen zeggen: Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Dylan, Mark Knopfler, John Martyn, Greg Brown en John Butler Trio. Dat is inderdaad duidelijk voelbaar in zijn sterke vertelstijl van zijn teksten en zijn mooie gitaarwerk. Zijn vorige releases werden al goed ontvangen en met deze nieuwe opnames lijkt het erop dat een grotere doorbraak voor de deur staat. Met "Rain For Sale" spreekt John Alexander immers zowel de folk-, Americana als bluesliefhebbers aan. Een singer-songwriter die origineel klinkt in zijn aanpak en weet te boeien met zijn prachtig vertellende stijl. De PR- man of vrouw die de term "Dustbowl Blues" voor zijn muziek gevonden heeft, sloeg de nagel op de kop, want dat is de perfecte naam voor deze muziek, en het hoesje geeft diezelfde sfeer weer van verlaten vlaktes, lange reizen, eenzaamheid en heimwee naar huis. Een perfect voorbeeld is dit van wat wij recensenten een "groeiplaat" noemen. Hoe meer draaibeurten, hoe beter het klinkt...Overtuig jezelf.

www.roots.be