Kevin Bryan delivers his verdict on some of this week’s CD releases Paul Carrack,”One On One” (Carrack-UK)- Sheffield born keyboard player,guitarist and vocalist Paul Carrack has been plying his trade with style and excellence for over half a century now, with an impeccable musical c.v, which includes stints with highly regarded outfits such as Mike + the Mechanics, Squeeze and Ace to name but a few. Paul’s latest offering is largely a one man show, as the pandemic forced this multi-talented character into his home studio to assemble the eagerly anticipated follow up to 2018’s “These Days,” with the vast bulk of the vocal and instrumental input supplied by the great man himself. The finished product provides an eloquent vehicle for the soulful tones which graced classic creations such as “The Living Years,” “Tempted” and Ace’s timeless “How Long” in the past, with a string of freshly minted new songs nestling snugly alongside Carrack’s affectionate cover of the Charlie Rich hit, “Behind Closed Doors.”

R.B.Morris,”Going Back To The Sky” (Singular Recordings)-He may not be a household name just yet, but R.B.Morris’ compelling approach to the art of songwriting has already attracted heartfelt accolades from a coterie of similarly gifted luminaries led by Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams and the late lamented John Prine. Morris’ latest long playing creation mines a rich vein of dutsy old highway songs and stories inspired by the singer-songwriter’s early road trips across America’s west. These expertly crafted narratives are stylishly underpinned here by some of the finest sidemen that the Americana genre has to offer these days, including mandolin and fiddle wizard David Mansfield and vastly experienced harmonica ace Mickey Raphael. Ample evidence of the rare qualities that have prompted perceptive pundits to hail Morris as “The greatest unknown songwriter in the country” is provided by stand-out tracks such as “That’s The Way I Do” and “Old Copper Penny.”

The Hello Darlins,”Go By Feel” (Self released)- “Go By Feel” is the eagerly anticipated debut album from Canadian roots music collective The Hello Darlins, with creative mainstays Candace Lacina and Mike Little bringing the experience that they’ve accumulated during a career spent working with everyone from Shania Twain to B.B.King to bear on one of the most heartfelt and affecting collections of songs that I’ve heard in many a long year. The husband and wife pairing have assembled a stylish and sympathetic group of sidemen to underpin their sterling efforts here, with prime cuts such as “Aberdeen,” “Prayer For A Sparrow” and “Still Waters” supplying an eloquent introduction to this exceptional outfit’s heady fusion of country,blues and gospel influences.The Hello Darlins’ musical vision should continue to expand and develop when normality finally returns and they’re able to take their material on the road in the months to come.