A magnificent, imaginative journey impeccably blending folk and americana along the way.
Singer-songwriters Ben Parker and David Berkley are Sons of Town Hall. A project born over a decade ago in a London pub. For this collection, they have created a fictional world and taken on new personas as Josiah Chester Jones (Berkeley) and George Ulysses Brown (Parker). Our intrepid duo take us on a magical journey on a homemade boat. All instructions are included, and if you have a spare, broken, old barn door, you can make your own; otherwise, sit back, relax, and enjoy the voyage.
It has been over six years since Sons of Town Hall last set sail with their impressive The Adventures of Sons of Town Hall collection in 2019. Since then, the myths and legends have continued to grow. The new suite begins with Gods, a beautiful piano piece that would serve as the opening of a play or film, before moving on to the instructions for How To Build A Boat. The mystical seafaring vessel as they proclaim “Baby, we’ll break free this time”. The characters introduce themselves on Wild Winds. There is an excellent use of brass instruments, giving the tune a military, almost regal march. It’s as if George Martin popped into the studio to offer advice, but it’s really down to the skills of Will Robertson, who arranged the strings and the impressive horns played by Jordan Katz. Percussion and the marching beats are added by Mathias Kunzli. We are now safely sailing away, and the story continues to evolve.
The Lions Paw calls to St. Jerome for spiritual guidance as the passage rises to an impressive cacophony again with a military air. You feel as if you are sailing into darker waters and dangerous times as the band sings “Desperate times call for desperate means“. The Rocky is a gorgeous piece of folk music: an ode to love and the rocky shores of England. The acoustic guitar beautifully frames the tune. Parker and Berkley’s, or should we say Brown and Jones’ harmonies, are exceptional as they are throughout the whole series.
This is an album that needs full attention and should be heard as one. You can enjoy Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall but its context is lost without the rest of the record. Of Ghosts and Gods needs the same type of approach, but if pushed, you may find special moments within to enjoy on their own. Antarctica has a rousing feel to it as a glorious choir rises, and you will feel like you are on the ship surrounded by the flowing ice, the cold air blowing all around, as the duo proclaim “No man no beast can turn us round / No ghost no God can stop us now“.
After engaging with Sirens, Brown and Jones visit the circus in the song New Orleans. Another excellent use of trumpets and playful circus percussion. There is so much to admire, and Sons of Town Hall have once again brought their imagination to life and allowed us to join the expedition, proving once again it is not about the destination but the journey. This is a wonderful and magical blend of folk and americana.
