Josh Orange The Fire and The Call
Josh Orange is a modern roots rock band that hails from Sydney, Australia and makes emotionally resonant modern Americana styled music, while also employing ambience, keys and delays to create a dreamlike context of inner thoughts and dialogue and then trades that off for soaring electronic expansive rock. This outfit sounds musically like they could be the next phase of U2, with lyrics that honor the intricacies of the human heart. All of that is evidenced here in their sixth studio album, The Fire & The Call.
Opening the album, “No One Left to Blame” is a song about the times when you need to feel something, anything, other than yourself and the lyrics are deep from the outset: “It’s bottomless, a lions den, the need to feel anything other than myself. When it catches up, when it takes aim, there is no one left to blame.” There’s pain, and the guitars and the rhythms probe it.
“Who Needs Who” dives directly into the very difficult times we are living in, and the kindness that is being challenges: “the answers that we’re seeking and all that we believe in to the test it is pushed once again, back to the wall… so tell me what will we become when the whole damn thing comes tumbling down.” This is the first shift for the band to showcase its ability to phase from personal monologues to national or even global observations.
“Love Again” has a grand roots rock opening and then it’s introspective with piano melodies above the guitar, and there’s heavy grunge when it hits the painful parts: “Open the door, let the rain come in, wash me down softly, and massage my skin. Let the hate leave nothing so I can begin to love again.” “Break My Heart” lingers a little longer in the agonizing raw emotions of emotions: “Have you had your time? Oh you needed space but when you’d run your race who did you call? Tell me. Why’d you gotta break my heart? Why’d you gotta break my heart?”
On “Send Me An Angel” there are moments that sound like it Jay Farrar could be singing it, the emotions are palpable, the high piano is gracious and the whole thing washes you clean in its plea: “Come help me Jesus. Send me an angel. I’m trying so hard but I’ve opened the door and done it again.” The album is honest and searches our souls the whole way through.
Later in the album, “Willows In the Wind” offers hope and the song feels gentle. In the aftermath of a painful breakup, there is still love for the child, and a vision of the best for her: “I hope I have given you the keys to survive the bumps on the road that will hurt you, my child. Remember, my darling, as I tucked you in and read you the story of the willows in the wind. May the road rise up to meet you and may the rain fall soft on your skin. I hope I have given you something to hold.”
These are serious songs processing a serious and all too common experience. The lyrics are complex and significant, tackling situations personal and sometimes global in the intricacies and ambiguities they contain in reality. They never water down or symplify. The music is ethereal and abiding. Roots rock, electric, moving, but never pushy. It’s moving and memorable. This is a name everyone should know: Josh Orange band.
Find the album here: https://s.disco.ac/fyykfahkoykx
More information is available here on his website: https://www.joshorange.com
This album was recorded at Everlands Studio in Sydney, engineered by Ben Worsey, and produced by Sydney producer Dylan Medina. It was mixed by the Legendary Tim Palmer & Travis Kennedy at his new Prism Horse studios in Austin Texas, and mastered by Leon Zervos at 301 in Sydney.
Musicians on the album are Gordon Burke on lead vocals and songwriting; Andrew Wass on lead guitar and background vocals and Alex Miller on drums. Additional studio musicians are Evie Corradin on bass, Seb Kruishneer on piano and organ and Shane McLaughlin on additional guitars. Tim Palmer also added guitar and keys.