Gwyn Ashton - Mojosoul (2023)

Gwyn Ashton, the UK-based musician, former Virgin Records France artist and South Australian Music Hall of Fame inductee has toured in over 30 countries. He’s a storyteller who shifts from the personal to the acerbic and belatedly to the introspective, while his acoustic guitar playing is his best ever, illuminating the light and shade of his songs. Armed with a 1930 National steel guitar, a Martin acoustic, three 12-string acoustic guitars and an old 60s electric Harmony H-75 for the only electric track on the album, Ashton provides the perfect accompaniment to well-crafted songs, occasionally beefed up by his foot percussion, including kick, snare, hi-hats, tambourine and blues harp. Mojosoul is Gwyn Ashton's versatile take on the blues, a musical journey that stretches the genre from acoustic folk to ragtime, swampy supercharged boogie and delta blues. This 10-song set offers plenty of contrast, subtle dynamics and, as his label name suggests, plenty of sumptuous tone to fill his mojosoul canvas.