Texas’ rock-and-roll groovesman Israel Nash returns with with his new album, Topaz. Recorded mostly on his own over the course of a year in the Quonset hut studio he built himself in the Texas Hill Country, Topaz is a rock-and-roll experiment, full of fat horns, gospel choruses, swagger, hope, and pain. With touches of psychedelia, folk and rock as ever, there is also a hefty nod to Muscle Shoals / Memphis soul...

Israel Nash's Topaz is a powerful, rock 'n' roll album which constantly challenges the perimeters of the genre. There's country, soul - and even a little jazz thrown into the mix at the end of 'Pressure'.

When the album opened I thought, for a moment that Nash had recorded a cover of Simply Red's 'Holding Back the Year'... Thankfully, he hadn't and 'Dividing Lines' is a strong and memorable opener which really lets Nash's vocals shine through. 'Closer' is a little more laid back - a little like if Cat Stevens had recorded a rock country single.

While there's a timeless quality to each track, it somehow manages to sound retro while also feeling modern. It's an engaging and very enjoyable release that won't disappoint his fans.

8

Nick Smithson