Withershins

Withershins is the debut solo album from Glastonbury-based guitarist Jamie Dickson. A homage to British folk guitar legends such as John Martyn and Bert Jansch, the album exudes powerful vulnerability and captures a delightfully rose-tinted vision of rural England. Dickson’s understated yet elegant fingerstyle paints a soundscape of autumnal forests, wintry hills, springtime wildflower meadows and summer days that seem to last forever. Accompanying Dickson are pianist and flautist Stephanie Jean Ward (Ida Mae), violinist Aaron Catlow (Sheelanagig/Kit Hawes), vocalist Bethia Beadman (Hole) and bassist Nick Pini (Laura Marling/Tom Jones/Ethan Johns). There’s an admirable absence of filler on Withershins. Roughly half the tracks float around the two-minute mark and each perfectly-clipped number seems to whet one’s appetite for the next. Perhaps owing to Dickson’s day job as the Editor-in-Chief of Guitarist magazine, the guitar tones achieved on Withershins are sublime. Warm, rich and bright like cinematic sun breaking through grey clouds, it’s clear Dickson’s expertise extends far beyond playing. While it’s more retrospective than progressive, Withershins certainly achieves its goal of evoking the unvarnished spirit of British folk. If you love folk and appreciate talented players, this album is sure to impress.