ARTHUR ALLIGOOD —ONE SILVER NEEDLE (New Song Recordings)

[Maurice Hope]

www.newsong-music.com 

Tennessee singer-songwriter, Arthur Alligood has a disarming style that like the best of his profession reels the listener in. Such is his discerning lyrics which through his simple melodies they are drawn like a moth to the flame; one just can’t help become entangled. 

 

One Silver Needle is produced by Mikal Blue and has an impressive list of players on the Mountain Stage New Song (2011) winner’s latest album. Players in question include Jim Keltner (drums), Billy Hawn (drums, percussion), Leland Sklar (bass guitar), Michael Ward (guitar), Jeff Babko (organ) and Blue who lends his worth on piano and bass guitar. Very much of a singer-songwriter vein as folk, country and rock meld into one he speaks of the road and how we are all travellers. Whether it be the highway (his music has a footloose and thirst to ramble) or life, and there again Alligood speaks of love going cold, coming back home like they were soldiers on the youthful escapade taken on ‘We Had A Mind To Run’ that stands out like a jewel in a crown littered with excellent songs.

 

On occasions I am tempted to draw comparisons to fellow singer-songwriter Bap Kennedy as far as style goes. The title track ‘One Silver Needle’ with hints of contemporary Celtic tones as the fiddle playing of Asha Sukumar plus, Blue and Babko leave their mark being a prime example as he eases, gently through a web of emotions.

As it is, Alligood produces a set of sharply crafted imagine provoking songs that has in ‘Darkness And Light’ and the darkly shrouded ‘Go On Back’ two excellent cuts. If fault were to be given it would be he could, arguably have introduced an additional change in tempo, otherwise Arthur Alligood comes highly recommended and I feel is set to continue to become stronger and better at his work.

 

                                                           Maurice Hope