Ireland’s renowned indie master of guitar and composition, Joe Hodgson – the musician and songwriter behind the iconic APPARITIONS album of 2020 – continues his intoxicating return this year, with another double single and a clear twist in style that’s divine to let play.
Featuring smoky and sultry vocals from the raspy and soulful featured artist Glen Harkin, Since You had A Hold On Me is a shoulder-swaying blues track, within which Joe’s effortlessly impressive guitar playing strikes a timeless and hypnotic series of smooth chords.
From the mellow to the outright untraceable in pace and presence, Joe’s guitar-work shines with natural charm throughout this seductive gem of a blues-folk track. The voice and guitar feel born to perform together in this way, and underneath we get a simple, nostalgic blues groove, a meandering bassline and beat combination, with some modest keys and synths adding a sleepy gospel vibe to an already alluring fusion of traits.
Also included in the two-track release, and flipping the script completely once again, is the big-band production and full-rock flavour of an immensely mighty Stick Or Twist.
Here we get a colourful funk production and a heavier guitar tone, the versatility of Joe’s playing and musical influences standing tall yet holding close to your attention and interest along the way. Where the opening track feels like a classic contender, this follow-up breaks the mold entirely, in terms of its playful freedom and sheer compositional originality.
Anticipate an infectious groove, uplifting and impressive, ever-changing but also well-rooted in this kind of playful, riff-led sense of character and flair.
This instrumental track becomes something of a ska-band explosion during its final moments, and is easily worth the time it takes to escape into more than a few times over this summer.
Joe Hodgson plays with style, confidence and purpose, and consistently offers something creatively unexpected to ignite the senses with each new release.
Find Joe Hodgson on Facebook, Instagram, X & his Website.
