Louder Than The Music

Paul Saxon - Peace Through The Night

Artist:

Paul Saxon

Title:

Peace Through The Night

Type:

Album

Released:

02 Feb 2015

LTTM Rating:

Readers Rating:

(1 vote)

Your Rating:

Review

This is a good quality self-funded recorded collection of songs. That's important to say at the start as it lacks some of the auto tuned and glitz-sprinkled bigger budgeted affairs we may be used to, but there's no skimping on Spirit, dedication, commitment and heart. Paul Saxon admits most of his material leans towards the slower side of life, and that's confirmed by the album's title: Peace Through The Night. The overall feel is quite mellow and acoustic. Arm waving classics this may not be, but more thoughtful heads on knees instead, no doubt really coming alive...
Read More This is a good quality self-funded recorded collection of songs. That's important to say at the start as it lacks some of the auto tuned and glitz-sprinkled bigger budgeted affairs we may be used to, but there's no skimping on Spirit, dedication, commitment and heart. Paul Saxon admits most of his material leans towards the slower side of life, and that's confirmed by the album's title: Peace Through The Night. The overall feel is quite mellow and acoustic. Arm waving classics this may not be, but more thoughtful heads on knees instead, no doubt really coming alive in a live scenario.

The objective is clear from the starter "Holy Spirit (Introduction)". Paul sings "Bring to ruin every wall I build to keep you away" and shows this is worship up close and personal, hanging out in Psalms territory. "From the Shadows" draws on mellow dreamy pop, scattered with some good standout lines such as "may the world quickly fade from my ever wandering heart". The stand out track for me is "Highway to Holiness", the immediately different musical feel playing like a grainy homemade video. It's a daydreaming skip of a hand-in-hand worship song, with a snoozy guitar and piano swapping jokes and stories in the play out. "Lead Me Home" is a rework from Paul's previous album, to make it "bigger and better", and it soars and is clearly in stadium anthem territory, and with a little more work would move from good support act to main stage headliner.

The arrangements are impressive, no doubt expressing what Paul had buzzing round his head when beginning to put the project together, and are mainly acoustic guitar led, with an effective blend of drums, picked guitars, pianos and occasional, and well-placed strings. Overall, there's a genuine sense of trying to be different, reflecting the approach being taken by a number of emerging British musicians at the moment. It's important to remember this is just one reviewer's opinion but I think these are all fair to good songs, and with further good advice in production, structure and performance Paul clearly has the potential and heart to move up into 4 and 5 star reviewland. In fact, I get the sense there's a challenge to those who can come alongside and encourage, inspire, direct and possibly support the next step towards his third and no doubt bigger album. To start that process, pay a visit to his website, buy a copy (or have a listen via Soundcloud), read about the story of the songs, and use Paul's excellent idea of a feedback form to contribute to the growth of this talent.

Review by Phil Aldis

LTTM Rating 3.5 Out of 5 Stars
Standout Tracks
Highway of Holiness
Lead Me Home
Holy Spirit (Introduction)

Articles

News

Paul Saxon Releases 'Peace Through The Night'

Bolton based youth worker Paul Saxon has released his second recording and first full length album, 'Peace Through The Night'. "The theme is all about peace equating to confidence, not simply the absence of noise", explains…

Paul Saxon - Peace Through The Night

Review

Articles

Paul Saxon Releases 'Peace Through The Night'

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