Joe Tilston
Album: Embers
Label: Fellside
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.joetilston.co.uk

Whilst genetically JoeTilston is predisposed to being a singer/songwriter/troubadour, his mother is Maggie Boyle, dad Steve Tilston and is a sibling of Martha Tilston, the thing I like about Embers is that he brings some of the attitude born of being the guitarist is punk/ska combo Random Hand.

The result is an album that is not only intelligently written but also has those high octane energy moments that feel like it's about to rip like a cleansing wind through the worst aspects of the society, the greed, the lack of justice. There is a righteous fire that burns, smouldering through this album, its title is no coincidence.

Tilston, though, doesn't give it a chance to incandescent rage, rage gets you nowhere, no one really takes any notice of the man raging away in the street, you might acknowledge his presence, you might even watch and listen for a while, but ultimately you stick it in the box marked avoid. The right thing to do is channel that anger, make a point and make it feel like you can make a difference.

There were times listening to "Embers" that I felt the ghost of Phil Ochs peaking around the edges of a song, there were times when I almost felt him in a phrase and a chord. Joe Tilston has got that touch to his music. It's one of the things that makes this such a good album to listen to. Music with attitude isn't something new, but Tilston gives it a decent bang for the buck and marks his emergence as a solo artist that is definitely his own man.

Neil King