Simon Stanley Ward
Album: Simon Stanley Ward
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.simonstanleyward.com

London based, but with Dorset roots, Simon Stanley Ward, is part of the creative Stanley Ward family, his brother Pete is an aspiring film maker. 2010 was roughly the time Simon relocated up to the Smoke, an event that saw him taking on the role of a solo artist, having previously been lead singer with Americana combo, Black Bart.

During those five years he's hardly ever stood still, becoming a fixture of the live music scene in the capital, well when he wasn't embarked on tours around the US and Spain, amongst others, he also hosted London's Lantern Society at the Betsy Trotswood, as well as helping to organise community festivals.

He managed to squeeze in an EP or two along the way, but has reached, some would say long overdue, point where he's ready to launch his self titled solo debut onto the world and he more than manages to hit take off velocity.

There is no doubting that this is good honest English Americana, with a nod or two towards rockabilly and skiffle, in fact there's even a self effacing, tongue in cheek, pop at artists that affect Americanisms as part of their performance, a nice slip of the stiletto through the rib cage and then given a sartorial twist.

Simon Stanley Ward has penned all the tracks on the album and recruited a good core of musicians, many Betsy Trotwood regulars, to flesh out the songs and a damned fine job of the whole thing, he and his cohorts have done. Across the album it gives a wonderful counterpoint where some songs seem to drive the music and some of the music drives the song with a delicate, almost edgy feel where they meet.

"Simon Stanley Ward" is an expressive album, well thought out and considered, but still retaining a live feel with a number of points where you can hear how easily the song could have gone off in another direction, well worth finding a slot on the rack for.

Neil King