Gentle Spirit

Steeped in the sensibilities of ’70s America, producer/musician Jonathan Wilson’s latest record Gentle Spirit is an unashamedly old school effort that recalls the days of free love and sunny dispositions. Credited with single-handedly bringing back a sound that has mostly been out of favour in recent times, the opus is a lush and jam-session heavy offering that’s as indebted to Crosby, Still and Nash (‘Desert Raven’) as it is to John Lennon during his hippy period (‘Canyon In The Rain’). The likes of the title track, ‘Natural Rhapsody’ and ‘Rolling Universe’ help mark out Wilson as a tunesmith of real charm and character. While at times some of the songs sound a little too retro and “dad-oriented” for this reviewer’s taste, the record is a fine addition to his canon on the whole.