Sleeping On Roads

The first solo album from Slowdive/Mojave 3 man Neil Halstead is a low-key collection of quiet, gentle songs that fits the term new folk fairly well, though it does go beyond that simple description.

Essentially, Sleeping On Roads is Halstead’s warm voice and guitar with understated keyboards and stringed instruments adding colour throughout. The next Strokes, he’s not; those looking for their rock’n’roll jollies would be better directed elsewhere.

But if it’s a dose of introspection that you’re seeking, then here’s a soulmate. It will, no doubt, be filed under alt. country, if only because of the inclusion of the very occasional banjo and dobro, but again that isn’t really what it is about. Rather it’s Halstead’s humanity and understanding which give these songs their charm.

Listeners will find their own ways in and out. And maybe some, like me, will be put in mind of early Donovan at times.

Sleeping On Roads only works if it’s a quiet layby. This is.