Roads is the fourth Album from Wellington based multi-instrumentalist David Sutton, ably backed on this collection by Joseph and James Sutton, bringing a presumed familial touch to the recording.

Four albums in, Roads displays the assurance and confidence of an experienced musician and writer. Sutton has a distinctive voice, both in a sonic and lyrical sense. Purely as a vocalist, there is a quite a range to Suttons approach, making the search for reference points interesting indeed. When in yearning and plaintive high register mode, there are echoes of Dave Pirner, and perhaps Joe Walsh , whilst a sonorous low register song like The Destruction of Sennacherib there are hints of Mark Lanegan. Elsewhere, there is the full on choral mode in Christmas Song. In terms of the vocal approach alone, this indeed is an expansive and ambitious album. Pleasingly so.

Lyrically, Sutton displays a maturity and sensitivity that is a real highlight of this work. Throughout Roads there is a keen observational sense, and wry wit and intelligence, be it the Paul Kelly-esque story telling of In The Morning, or a more traditional epic subject matter in The Destruction of Sennacherib , or even when in an apparent worship mode-possibly!- for' Christmas Song.

Musically, this album is equally expansive. The main sonic palette might be best described as organic in terms of instrumentation. At the heart is piano/ acoustic guitar, bass and drums-all played live- and the topline is covered by subtle electric guitars, violin organ and occasional synth. Vocals are an extremely important element of these songs, and throughout great care has been taken with the use of voice as an instrument. A whole range of techniques are employed. Some examples: three and four part vocal harmonies, call and response, counter melodies, and a whole range of vocal approaches from traditional choral to the more expansive beach boys/60’s pop style of using voice as texture. It's all done with real skill and remains a musical highlight throughout.

The musical wit and intelligence brought to bear in this album is best displayed on the highlight track Six Days. Straight up there is the nifty programmatic trick of phrasing the main refrain "God made the world in six days" as a bar of six beats. The song is harmonically expansive, has a tight vocal arrangement and makes clever use of ‘found’ audio at the beginning and end. There is a terrific coda for this song, and you really do have to listen to the end. The overall delivery allows the listener the luxury of a genuine ambiguity about whether this is full-on worship music( where it would be perfect) or an ironic/parodic approach (where it would be equally effective).It is a hallmark of quality writing to be able to take a plainly scripture-based lyric and allow it the room to function equally as well for a secular listener.

Roads provides rich pickings for an attentive listener and holds up well through multiple listens also. This is intelligent, witty and musically sophisticated music, which is not without a sense of fun. The musical scope is broad and only very occasionally seems to stretch a little thin. Fine work indeed.

• 1
  Head Like A Hole
• 2
  Horror Story
• 3
  Fraser Ross
• 4
  Fur Patrol
• 5
  L.A.B.
• 6
  Michelle Rounds
• 7
  Devilskin
• 8
  The Boondocks
• 9
  Late to Chelsea
• 10
  The Feelers

• 
  The D4 @ Totara St, Mount Maunganui - 07/02/2025
• 
  Miss June @ Totara St, Mount Maunganui - 07/02/2025
• 
  Dead Empire @ Totara St, Mount Maunganui - 07/02/2025
• 
  Butter Wouldn't Melt @ Kumeu Showgrounds, Auckland - 26/01/2025

• 1
  APT.
  ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
• 2
  DIE WITH A SMILE
  Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
• 3
  BIRDS OF A FEATHER
  Billie Eilish
• 4
  TASTE
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 5
  I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
  Gracie Abrams
• 6
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 7
  SAILOR SONG
  Gigi Perez
• 8
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 9
  A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
  Shaboozey
• 10
  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
  Chappell Roan

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