Impressive debut pays homage to icons of the past but still produces a fresh sound.
Get ready for a journey through memory, rhythm and self-discovery on Will Foulke’s debut album “Charleston Blues”. Now resident in LA, memories of his hometown, influenced by icons such as Robert Johnson, Otis Redding, and Eric Clapton, produce an eclectic mix. There are plenty of sharp musical turns, but Foulke’s skill is to make everything mix together beautifully. He describes the record as “a tribute to the blues and the musicians who made the genre what it is today.”
Don’t expect everything to be steeped in the past, as in performing all the vocals and instrumentation, he delivers a fresh yet timeless sound. Things kick off with the psychedelic ‘Intro’, which has a heavy Beatles influence, leading into the driving road trip anthem ‘Dropped Out’. The title track highlights Foulke’s blistering guitar work, while ‘Out To You’ is a heartfelt tribute to Brian Wilson with lush harmony-rich production from Elliott Elsey and legendary engineer Vlado Meller. The bright and breezy ‘The Devil In You’ is reminiscent of George Harrison at his tongue-in-cheek best, linking nicely to the closer ‘Ran Away’ where Foulke sings “you tell yourself this is the place but it’s not clear.” If he continues on the path set by this impressive debut, things will become clear very quickly for Will Foulke.
