MV saw Wild Ponies back in 2017, and the review ended like this: “Music is a universal language anyway. When it is this good and played with this much enjoyment and fun, it doesn’t matter where you are from, it truly speaks to the heart.”
Listening to Doug and Telisha Williams’ latest offering, those words come to the fore again, but this time you can substitute the word “music” for the word “love”.
Exploring what’s called “the polyamorous American dream” these songs explore the many shades of love, but they do it superbly.
Americana music does not get better than the Jason Isbell-ish “Band Of Cardinals” and their voices mesh so well on the likes of “Morning Comes”.
“Bury The Young” is an undeniable highlight, while the raft of guests ensures the musicianship matches the gorgeous voices that are on display on “Breathe” or the personal “Hide Your Heart”.
The steel guitar on “Love You Right Now” hides its pain, and the title track could have come out at any point in the history of this music and fitted in.
Doug takes the lead vocals on “Heartbeat” and alters the dynamic, but the harmonies are glorious, and they are so good when they strip it back like on “Paring Knife”, it makes for a real special contrast. That’s especially true when they follow it up with the more aggressive near blues lick on “Wind Love And Water”.
As it all ends with “Night Sky” and it raises the question: “How can we be alone?” then you are left to reflect on the fact that whatever our differences, political, sexual, religious, or whatever, then we all look up at the same sky.
“Dreamers” celebrates the bonds that bind us all – and does it wonderfully.
Rating 8.5/10
