4/5 stars
“Countrypolitan” was a word used to describe this album. That is unbelievably maddening. Although, to be entirely fair, it’s not an inaccurate description of Josh Rouse’s Embers of Time.
The sort of destructive introspection that results from such a devastating admission isn’t to be found on Embers of Time, as Rouse reminds us what’s good in the world with his upbeat, country-inflected folk.
The obvious connection to make here is that the Spain-based American has a lot of common with City And Colour. But where Dallas Green’s solo project is steadily been subject to more and more over-production, Rouse’s efforts focus mainly on a man and his guitar.
Of course there’re pianos, accordions, drums, steel pedal guitars, maracas even, but as in say, ‘Time’, where all these extra instruments factor, they merely flank Rouse’s main course – not overtake it. The steel pedal in particular gives the very accessible strumming an incredibly powerful mood to it.
The best track on this album, ‘You Walked Through The Door’, is the most refined example of what makes Embers of Time great: enjoyable and conventional pop tunes, squeezed from the finest musical citrus fruits of Americana.
Josh Rouse’sEmbers of Timeis out through Yep Roc Records.
