Reviewed by Tony Cummings

I hope quite a few partakers of the last Cross Rhythms will have already sent off a cheque for this gem. For as The Experience 2 and our interview both indicated, Roly Johnson isn't a singer/songwriter who rushed into a studio with the first batch of songs he came up with, but a man who's allowed his songwriting craft to be refined in the crucible of bitter experience and transcendent revelation. What he offers here are songs of intensity, ruthless honesty and a tangible hope. Take "Sacrifice Of Love", over his elegant piano Roly intones "I'm all out of money/But my Father will provide/I've run out of energy/But his strength keeps me alive/ lost control of things/But my father took the wheel/I cried out in desperation/He whispered I know just how you feel." My absolute favourite song is "Paid My Dues" with its stark images of playing gigs to seriously antagonistic audiences while throughout, whether handling a wistful ballad or a bluesy folk romp, Roly's aged-in-brine voice bristles with passion. What elevates a good album to greatness is the production and here Rob Ash's work is exemplary as he builds up deft textures of guitar, haunting harmonica and occasional bursts of elegant piano. Back in the early '80s Chapel Lane was a bi-word for production quality. Now at last a 10 square album emerges again from that seminal Herefordshire ministry. If you only buy albums given high profile in Premier or Juice, you'll miss Travelling Light', one of the most memorable singer/songwriter albums of the year.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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