Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
The early promise indicated by South Carolina troubadour Taylor McCall has been truly realised on this, his sophomore album and it’s a tribute to the young artist’s talent that he was hand picked to open for Robert Plant’s Saving Grace, not just once, but twice.
It’s little wonder that the Led Zeppelin legend took him on tour, the superb storytelling and extraordinary voice of McCall things to be enchanted by. ‘Mellow War’ is a very personal work, dedicated as it is to his grandfather whose picture during the Vietnam War adorns the cover, the music inside both capturing that freewheeling spirit but also a timeless and soulful quality.
Certainly, the opening brief track ‘Sinking Sand’ sounds like a lost 1930’s lo-fi blues recording but this soon gives way to a richly recorded and produced album that is soaked in atmosphere. From the titular track onwards, there’s a quiet power resting here, McCall’s ability to strip things down but still add shimmering layers, something that’s an incredibly heady blend. What strikes you firstly is his voice, a blend of Joe Cocker, Bob Dyland and Neil Young, there’s a warmth and strength that sounds lived-in way beyond his years and the yearning ‘Rest on Easy’ highlights his ability to sound both tough and touching as the song shimmers.
Things get woozy for ‘Tide of Love’, the feel that of emotions trying to find a home amongst the static hum of a radio being tuned and things switch up for ‘Rolling Stoned Again’, the evocation of a lonely man in a bar clutching one last Jack Daniels on a table strewn with empty beer bottles perfectly imagined.
Further down the bottle, ‘Whiskey Costs Less’ is laden with doomy prophecy as the alcohol slowly numbs the senses, blurring the pain but this has more of a Tom Waits vibe, the control there before slipping into an unconscious mess.
Redemption soon comes in the Gospel tinged bone deep soul of ‘Star in the Morning’, the countrified ‘Angel Falling Down’ a further stroll back to a welcoming home as rainbow colours explode all around, lighting the way.
McCall does raw well, ‘I Want You Still’ a bleeding heart sown on a sleeve but when the lush strings and production touches of the Beatles and 10cc speckle the Eagles-ish ‘Hard to Love You’ and closing wonder ‘You to Blame’, any scintilla of resistance that remains is banished once and for all.
It’s hard to justify in an age where a lot of music has just become a commodity to be enjoyed then ejected shortly after, but ‘Mellow War’ is genuinely an album that’s destined to be something loved, embraced, and kept for very many years to come. What we have here is a modern classic and a truly breathtaking achievement.
Taylor McCall’s album ‘Mellow War’ is out now – https://orcd.co/mellowwar
Follow Taylor McCall:
Facebook – / taylormccallmusic
Instagram – / taylormccallmusic
Twitter – / taylormccallsc
Website – https://www.taylormccall.com
