Psychedelic Folk-Rock Singer/Songwriter Andrew Adkins was born in Defiance, Ohio before moving to the nowadays flourishing neighbourhood of East Nashville, where artists songwriters and other innovators reside. He co-founded and toured with Blues infused power trio Mellow Down Easy for eight years before joining funk-influenced, indie-rock group Lions for Real (named after the Allen Ginsberg poem). It didn`t feel right to him so he decided to fly solo and has done so quite successfully for nigh on the last seven years releasing a number of solo albums and has had songs featured in films, television and commercials. He has a new album, “The Echoist” released this month.
The album opens with `Mostly Ouroboros` a wonderfully lo-fi swagger with a buzzing guitar, pounding drums and Andrew`s vocals sounding as if they are being shared through a megaphone at times. A song that came out of the depths of a tornado hitting his town followed by the COVID-19 virus. Andrew expressed “I’ve battled against some demons in my past! It’s a mountain to overcome and becomes a day-to-day system of maintenance. The initial moment when you stop is dreadful and very dismal! I tried to capture that with Ouroboros, the sick and despairing feeling once you separate yourself from that world. The harder drugs are definitely a thing of my past. It’s easy to slip back into old habits, but I’m grateful I was able to walk away when I did!” There`s a delightful soul funk texture to `Vagabond Shoes` A highly infectious number that had me swaying along listening to it. Another song written during the COVID-19 quarantine. A song the singer felt that the uplifting vibe of the tune was fitting as a way to soothe and distract from the current situation.
`Thunder Perfect Mind` is a real trippy psychedelic piece with strummed guitars aplenty, keyboard and synth swathes and a vocal that is almost distorted floating on top and throughout.
A rapped tambourine leads us into `Runination Suite` an almost confessional slice of country flavoured or americana tinged upbeat prose with some marvellous lap steel tinges.
The bizarrely titled `Prince Charming Slit His Throat` enjoys some cracking guitar chord twangs as we journey through it and some quite orchestral type strings. For some reason it put me in mind of the magnificent American Southern rock band Drivin N Cryin. There was a more reflective feel to `Bitter Pills` a quite complex song musically and what I’d probably call a songwriter`s song. The sort of track that i`m sure somebody like Elvis Costello would`ve been proud to call his own.
`Hazel Barricade Eyes` is pure americana with lap steel guitar, piano and almost an echo on the vocals. We enjoy some intricate guitar riffs in the latter part of the song. The album closes with the rocky anthem `Save The Day` A number inspired by the current state of his country and the world. Andrew says the track laments for a hero. Someone to “lift us up and to save us, from ourselves”. a much relatable and encouraging sentiment in today’s uncertain horizon.
I really enjoyed “The Echoist” and loved the variety of musical genres it offered. Adkins certainly has a unique style that fuses blues, rock, and soul. There are thought provoking and intriguing lyrics shared against a background of roots influenced rock. neo-psychedelic outings and captivating americana. A rare talent that up to now has evaded my radar but thankfully no longer.
Rating 9 /10
