Ledfoot – Black Valley album review

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Ledfoot – Black Valley

Album review by; The Dark Cookie

Black Valley is the 5th album from Ledfoot and whilst being unmistakably Tim Scott McConnel, the album, whilst very very dark, is less “Gothic Blues” than previous albums. And is a yet different turn from last year’s album with Ronni Le Tekrø, A Death Devine, which was one of my highlights of 2020. I’ve read elsewhere that this album has a stronger singer/songwriter attitude and has lyrics and a sound closer to the “murder ballad” tradition. I cannot say I know what that means, but for me this is a dark and brooding album of songs that show the blackest side of Americana music. I mean this makes the White Buffalo sound positively jolly, but does make a great bedfellow for his style.

The one thing that does remain the same is Ledfoot’s haunting slide guitar technique which has the power to make the hairs on the back of the neck stand up with only a handful of notes. No one sounds like he does, no. No one could sound like he does; we have a truly unique artist here.

Let’s talk about some of the songs here. Title track and opener “Black Valley” sets the tone from the get go. I am not sure how to describe it, the rhythm and pacing is almost laid-back, but at the same time there is an underlying something that make the listener feel ever so slightly off-kilter. “Take Away The Hurt” carries on in the same fashion, the double tracked vocals, the slide guitar all give the song that certain feel. “Without Love” is almost cheerful in its pacing, but not in its execution. The vocal delivery is exceptional and totally different from anything you will hear elsewhere.

For some it would be fair to say Ledfoot’s delivery and style is not going to be for everyone, but for me it works. There is a gentle strength and a dark passion that runs through every song on this album and whilst a sound truly his own, you can hear echoes of dark geniuses that have gone before. The big one that comes to mind of course is the late great Jonny Cash, particularly the latter years, like his cover of “Hurt” for example. Echoes.

Other highlights, which it possibly not the right word in this case, but will have to do are, “Angel Town”, one of the pacier numbers, but no less eerie for its relative pace. “This I Know” is darkly beautiful; “Falling Down” is the one where Tim is channeling the spirit of the Man In Black vocally, if not musically, this is a real high point of the album for me. And final track “Slip Away” is different again. There is a restraint in the delivery, and in a very odd way when you listen to the lyrics, a weird positivity, I cannot exactly explain what I mean by this, it is the tone of the song. It is like “what if you did things differently, not how you ended up”. Amazing finish to a satisfying listen.

I do believe music should primarily be a medium to move the soul, be it to lift you up, to give you positive energy, to make you sing and dance, but there is also room for music that makes you think, to make you be introspective, to express the darker thoughts occasionally, which this album does. But whilst being dark it can help you appreciate the light in your life too.

A stunning album.

5 out of 5

Musicians;

Tim Scott McConnel “Ledfoot”

Social Media Links;

Facebook; https://m.facebook.com/Ledfootpage

Web; https://www.ledfoot.org/

You Tube; https://youtu.be/mJ_guRZgJ0k

Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/led.foot/

Spotify; https://open.spotify.com/artist/4p4n2wyaCut8CfgNKqRfpo?si=-C1YjJeGQ0eU4dn7rsGzBA

Track listing:
1. Black Valley

2. Take Away The Hurt