JON BODEN – Afterglow – Hudson Records HUD004

AfterglowFolk royalty Jon Boden’s latest album, Afterglow, is an excellent follow on from Songs From The Floodplain, which was released in 2009, and was Jon’s second solo album. Jon is a twelve time BBC Folk Award Winner who partnered celebrated concertina player John ‘Squeezy’ Spiers in Spiers and Boden, fronted Bellowhead, and comes out to play with his Remnant Kings now and again.

Afterglow is a story of urban lovers after dark. The ten fabulous tracks portray a journey after dark into the early morning leaving the previous night behind – their adventures into the night and what they experience.

The album starts with ‘Moths In The Gaslight’ – in true Boden melodic style then leading into the title track and bringing in a drum beat. ‘Wrong Side Of Town’ brings in the traditional Boden irregular beat we all know and love. ‘Fires Of Midnight’ is a spoken lyric in the traditional style of Boden. One of my favourites, ‘All The Stars Are Coming Out Tonight’ is a foot tapping track including fiddle, bodhran, Cajun and all!

‘Dancing In The Ruins’ includes off-beat rhythm and an electric guitar taking the listener into ‘Burning Streets’ telling the tale of the lovers escaping down the back streets to a racy beat. The penultimate track – ‘Yellow Light’ – has Jon’s traditional concertina, cello and quietens the mood down after the night’s activities. Afterglow ends with a track entitled ‘Aubade’ – the dawn is now breaking bringing the end of the night, the birds are now singing heralding in the dawn and a new day.

An excellent album as we would expect from a master of his craft. Ex-Bellowhead members Paul Sartin, Sam Sweeney and Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman Band) are involved on this album as are members of The Remnant Kings together with producer Andy Bell, and recorded in Sheffield. As always, Jon Boden’s albums are vivid and give beautiful imagery in the lyrics. This album is no exception to his pure talent.

Afterglow is now on general release. Available as a single CD, a de luxe version and a vinyl version and from the 6th November Jon is on tour solo. Jon while the Remnant Kings are touring in November from the 17th.

Jean Camp

Artist’s website: www.jonboden.com

‘All The Stars Are Coming Out Tonight’ – official video:


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