Coley Garratt began life in the West Midlands but is now based in London and this is his debut album of original songs. As far as I can make out he’s aided by two guitarists, a backing vocalist and a drummer but he gives out information grudgingly – let’s suggest that he prefers to let his music do his talking for him.
The record starts out all sweetness and innocence with ‘A Bird Unsung’ with Coley’s firm, clear voice over acoustic guitar and continues in the same vein with ‘No Better’. Until you listen carefully, that is. There are hard words under that disarming exterior. By the time we reach ‘Hanging On To Ghosts’ his foot is on the gas and back down it goes with ‘English Gothic’ featuring a false falsetto – I think he can reach those high notes quite naturally.
His music has been described as a cross between English folk and Americana but, apart from his lead guitarists (producer Nicholas Ward and David Weston) it’s neither of these although I suspect that no-one knows what else to call it. He’s been likened to John Martyn and that’s a fair comment if only for his laid-back style. His songs and inspiration come from who knows where but if you ask him, he’d probably say that he observes life.
Dai Jeffries
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