Review: Ray LaMontagne – Long Way Home
Ray LaMontagne – Long Way Home
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Liula
Release: 2024
Text: Bert van Kessel
Ray LaMontagne must have been a soul singer in a previous life and he has kept that exceptionally soulful voice. Two decades ago he was inspired by the iconic singer/songwriters of the 1970s, most notably Townes and Stephen Stills, and he decided to be a troubadour; thus a new genre was born : folksoul.
On later albums he allowed himself to digress into unknown territories, even incorporating psychedelics and symphonics. But on his previous album, the acclaimed Monovision from 2020 he fortunately returned to his familiar folksoul. On this latest one he sticks to that sound, creating a beautiful, intimate soundscape with ample space for his beautiful voice. He firmly shies away from the rock side of his inspirations Van Morrison and Neil Young whose spirits pop up in My Lady Fair and And They Called Her California respectively.
The soulman in Ray Lamontagne steps up straightaway in the encouraging, almost gospel-like opening track, Step Into Your Power; the guitar evokes Steve Cropper and the backing vocals by The Secret Sisters are captivating.
I Wouldn’t Change a Thing is a touching personal revelation with a moaning pedal steel from My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel. The Way Things Are breathes a whiff of Paul Simon in a melancholy setting with the positive message “You can be free”.
Yearning may well be the most beautiful track. It is slow and sincere; an acoustic guitar provides a warm bed for Ray to take his soulful vocals to the next level. The two atmospheric Instrumentals La De Dum La De Da and So Damned Blue give the listener ample space and successfully invite them to Join Lamontagne on his reflections. The closing title track has regret dripping from every syllable. Its uplifting message leaves us longing for more, though.
Ray Lamontagne’s ninth release does not offer adventurousness but sticks to familiar quality, he is more pervasive and convincing than ever. It is probably his best one; it has become an entrancing album that will truly be able to get us through those long winter nights, offering the warmth and comfort of home. Those nights had better not be too long as, alas, the nine tracks only last just over half an hour; the reset button will be working overtime.
Tracks:
01. Step Into Your Power
02. I Wouldn’t Change A Thing
03. Yearning
04. And They Called Her California
05. La De Dum, La De Da
06. My Lady Fair
07. The Way Things Are
08. So, Damned, Blue
09. Long Way Home
Website: https://www.raylamontagne.com/