Blair Dunlop burns rubber on his new album

BLAIR Dunlop’s vocal delivery is reminiscent of Jackson Brown but his guitar playing has all the assuredness and skill of a Richard Thompson.

Blair Dunlop's stunning new album Notes From An Island is out now.

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BLAIR Dunlop’s vocal delivery is reminiscent of Jackson Brown with touches of Kelly Joe Phelps, but his guitar playing has all the assuredness and skill of a Richard Thompson.

The 26-year-old English musician and actor’s latest album, Notes From An Island on the Gilded Wings Records label, finds him moving from the more folky acoustic self-penned songs of yore to a more produced sound with some catchy riffs — Feng Shui, for example — with a fuller band adding to an impressive array of songs.

Described as a “heartbreak record that explores the parallels between personal solitude and national isolationism” — it was written while the Brexit debate was in full rage — it helps to confirm what an important voice Dunlop’s is.

The strong melodic lines are all there, the vocals coupled beautifully with an enviable guitar technique, as well as the political messages you would expect if you know his earlier work like First World Problem from the 2016 Gilded album.

But it is harder-edged and the sound is spectacular, largely due to English singer-songwriter and Mercury Prize nominee Ed Harcourt’s input.

Album artwork for British folk rock singer Blair Dunlop's 2018 album Notes From An Island.

One strong track is Sweet On You, a deceptively jaunty country rock song about a relationship which proves to be too shallow and where the protagonist finds he has more in common with the woman’s mother! The chorus relates how they sing along to their favourite songs: “Oh and if you don’t like Ry Cooder how could I ever be sweet on you”, to which Dunlop adds the killer line: “If I had a choice between you and your mother I know which one I’d choose”.

This is a massively impressive collection of songs from a young man with talent to burn

One and The Same has a Nick Drake feel and highlights Dunlop’s excellent vocals while his acoustic guitar on Within my Citadel evokes the likes of British folk-blues players Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch and John Renbourne.

And there’s a tribute to early Thompson and the legendary British folk rock pioneers Fairport Convention on one of the strongest tracks, Wed To Arms.

All lyrics are thoughtful and intelligent and this is a massively impressive collection of songs from a young man with talent to burn.

Notes From An Island available at JB Hi-Fi for $24.99.