Martyn Joseph has always been an astute observer of life and quick to put it down in song. With 'Troubled Horses' he continues this trend with some of his most personal, observational and socially aware songs to date.
‘Troubled Horses’ is an album that draws in the listener slowly and commands their attention from the opening notes. Sparse and intimate production featuring only Martyn on guitar and harmonica he evokes the sound of Guthrie and Seeger with an album that is personal and reflective of the world today.
Title track ‘Troubled Horses’ appears to be a commentary on the trouble around divisive politics, identity and race riots. ‘Last Night I heard America’ appears to mourn the decline of the once great country under the current administration. ‘Let Me hear Your Voice’ feels like a call for reassurance. ‘In a World that Breaks Your Heart’ rallies the listener with the simple message of keep going on.
‘Troubled Horses’ is given more emotional depth by the fact that Joseph decided to record the album solo in a short space of time. As he explains:
‘I wanted to create a record that felt up-close and personal, songs that are sitting right next to you, on the edge of too close for comfort.’
Throughout his career, Martyn Joseph’s writing and music has been compared to Bruce Springsteen, with some even describing him as “The Welsh Bruce Springsteen”. While Springsteen has the much lauded ‘Nebraska’, Joseph now has his own classic in ‘Troubled Horses’.
Martyn Joseph plays Whelans in Dublin on the 26th November and The Black Box Belfast on the 27th November. Tickets via: martynjoseph.net