The Golden Dregs – Godspeed

Weve been dying to meet you, Ben Woods sings on Linoleum, the second single from Godspeed, album number four for The Golden Dregs. This rousing greeting doubles as a mission statement for the project. What began as a solo endeavour by the then Cornwall-based multi-instrumentalist and producer has grown into a six-member ensemble, each artist deeply rooted in Londons grassroots music scene. On Godspeed, for the first time, each band member contributes individually, but Woods songwriting and resonant baritone remain at the core an anchor welcoming listeners into the fold.

The city plays its part here. A very close ear will pick up Londons cranky ambience, recorded on a handheld recorder by synth player Davy Roderick, then woven into the songs. And where the previous The Golden Dregs record, On Grace & Dignity (4AD), held up a light to and lamented a certain kind of rural experience, Godspeed turns the contrast up three or four notches above its predecessor, feeling cut through with the spirit of the city because of it. The highs are higher: a wall of sound soars more and more euphorically on penultimate track, “The Wave. The lows are lower: I think Ive had enough to last a lifetime announces the chorus on “The Weight of it All, a beautifully devastating homage to irreparable situations, sung by Issie Armstrong.