For those not in the know, Canadian singer-songwriter, Julian Taylor recently premiered the first title track single from his just-released new album, The Ridge (set for release on CD, vinyl, and via most digital platforms on June 19th, 2020 via Howling Turtle Inc.)

Of West Indian and Mohawk descent, the Toronto music scene staple and a musical chameleon Taylor reveals a myriad of ties through his music, which are showcased to perfection within his previous ten albums in the last two decades; each themselves a dramatic departure from its predecessor.

Here on The Ridge, we get eight tracks that are firmly rooted in folk Americana, all of them lovingly embedded with lush instrumentation and a wilderness-like, Rocky Mountain-evoking ambiance.

1. 'The Ridge'
2. 'Human Race'
3. 'It's Not Enough'
4. 'Over The Moon'
5. 'Ballad of a Young Troubadour'
6. 'Be With You'
7. 'Love Enough'
8. 'Ola, Let's Dance'

The songs on The Ridge (which is itself named after the town Maple Ridge, British Columbia) deal with themes that are especially poignant to Taylor, if not now all of us, given what the world is going through - such as love, loss, and a yearning desire for the human race to prevail against numerous hardships.

Indeed, his lyrics follow a poignant journey of his younger self and as he has grown older, also tries to look at as many silver linings as possible to balance his experiences out.

Kicking things off with the title track, a song that if you close your eyes and allow yourself to drift way to, you'll swear has a certain low slung 'Riders On The Storm' vibe to it, that's backed by the smooth, lo-fi, country porch-livin' majesty of 'Human Race.'

Next up is the stirring guitar work and deep, soulful vocal stance of both 'It's Not Enough' and the harmonious 'Over The Moon,' and then the sweepingly orchestrated, foot-tappin' 'Ballad of a Young Troubadour.'

This rather wonderful new album then rounds out with the gently lo-fi 'Be With You,' then the mid-tempo, percussion-led blues of 'Love Enough,' before coming to an all-too-soon close on the storytelling of time and what it is and what it was, the reality of completeness, and the profound message that we are because of what it is, found within 'Ola, Let's Dance.'

Co-produced by Taylor and longtime collaborator Saam Hashemi, mixed by Hashemi, and mastered by Noah Mintz, The Ridge was recorded at The Woodshed, a Toronto-area studio owned by a Canadian alt-country stalwarts Blue Rodeo.

Album Credits: Vocals, Guitar, Piano - Julian Taylor Drums & Conga - Gene Diabo Bass - Barry Diabo Piano, Dobro Guitar - Derek Downham Pedal Steel - Burke Carroll Percussion - Saam Hashemi Fiddle – Miranda Mullholland Backing Vocals – Sheila Carabine & Amanda Walther (DALA) Cello – Kevin Fox Percussion – and Saam Hashemi.

Official 'The Ridge' Purchase Link

JulianTaylorMusic.ca

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