WOOD, WIRE AND WORDS – The Boy With The Smile (own label)

The Boy WIth The SmileWood, Wire And Words are a trio from Portsmouth: lead singer and guitarist David Rozzell, who writes most of the band’s songs; Clare Rozzell, vocalist and double-bass player and Pat Francis who does most of everything else. The Boy With The Smile is their third album. David says that the group doesn’t like to be pigeon-holed with a genre but in that respect they don’t quite succeed. Regardless of the subject matter, this is Americana but with the exception of Pat’s Dobro they don’t overstep the line into the tropes of country. In fact, the combination of British subjects with the music of the Americas is central to their appeal. This is particularly evident in the single cover here; ‘1952 Vincent Black Lightning’. Had Richard Thompson not included a mention of Box Hill in the song it could be set anywhere in the USA although James would probably have ridden a Harley. That’s the way Wood, Wire And Words play it and, you know, it’s the best cover of the song I’ve heard.

The title track, which opens the show, is a rural love song which mentions Morris dancers and was written for a Harvest Festival gig and David returns later to the theme with ‘Toast The Harvest’. The next two tracks, ‘I’ll Not Seek Pardon’ and ‘More Than A Train’, are definitely cowboy songs but the latter has a clever twist. Setting it in the UK, David points out that here you can’t jump a train and lose yourself in the wilderness, hence the title. You can get as far as Wick but there will be several changes on route – they’ll track you down.

A few more songs deserve special mention. ‘The Words You Can’t Find’ is an autobiographical piece concerned with living with chronic pain, depression and memory loss but it’s not as dark as that makes it sound. ‘Truth And Democracy’ is their political protest and very good it is too. They balance that with the humour of ‘There’s No Food In My Bowl’ – which is about a cat.

I like The Boy With The Smile a lot. David Rozzell has a mighty voice and a real talent as a songwriter, the playing is tight and the whole album is very easy to listen to – in the best possible sense of easy listening.

Dai Jeffries

Artists’ website: www.woodwireandwords.com

‘More Than A Train’ – live:


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