Folk, Jazz and indie influences knit together with surprising cohesion on this the debut album by singer-songwriter Joe Wilkes. The entire album offers up a striking mélange of tones and textures in true ‘it shouldn’t work but…’ style. The CD’s real mark of distinction lies in the interweaving of these elements with rich woodwind and string arrangements. Opener Spotlight introduces the indefinable exoticism which hovers around many of these tracks, with a certain mysteriousness conjured by the taut guitar, arresting gypsy-styled strings, enigmatic melody and stylish woodwind parts. The Castle is simpler but equally refined, string lines reduced to a distant, haunting echo and Wilkes’ guitar brought to the fore. A jazz-styled rhythmicality injects a kind of laidback playfulness into Easy Talking, while the suave Too Late Too Pray – a song sporting a carnation in it’s button-hole if ever I heard one – addresses the state of American society in the classiest of ways. Wilkes’ ear for an attractive melody, spot-on from start to finish, is particularly fine tuned on Infra Red and Ships, the latter a charming folk-pop number. The Rains is endowed with one of Wilkes’ smokiest and most soulful vocal performances. Many up-and–coming singer-songwriters produce highly competent first albums but fewer of them couple quality with a genuinely individual sound. ….he has the advantage of being instantly memorable. Helen Carney * * * * Maverick Magazine Do you wonder past the CD section in Tesco and wonder why no one makes proper music anymore... Well worry no more....’This Time Won’t Last Forever’ is the sort of song James Blunt wishes he could write and I wish Radio 2 would play it instead of ‘Your Beautiful’ - add nausea. Joe Wilkes is a name to look out for. Jamie Hailstone Blues Matters Joe Wilkes has made the odd recording before, but Spotlight shows a new level of maturity in the work of this twentysomething Brit….He’s happiest spinning out effortlessly charming melodies underpinning his sweet ‘n’ sour lyrics. But there’s a Bluesy feel to it all too, as well as some atmospheric clarinet, harmonica and flute that take things up a notch. A haunting set that deserves to be spot-lit. Phil Strongman * * * * Hi-Fi Choice Cuts Not for the first time, being down and out in Paris makes for startling artistic results….Having decamped to Paris in 2002 to get it together after finding himself ‘between houses’ in London, whatever Wilkes was running away from he/we were more than compensated with the collection of songs that returned with him across the channel. Influences such as John Martyn, Bert Jansch and Davy Graham are immediately apparent in Wilkes’ dexterous, percussive guitar style, which has an almost European flare to it…. Flamenco-Folk? Spotlight as Wilkes did himself, reaches beyond the shores of its influence….it rewards the listener with an eclectic collection of roots based music, with the stylistic variety a whole album requires yet remaining focused and congruous throughout. Pete Gow 8/10 Americana UK A lazy reviewer might draw a comparison between Joe Wilkes and John Martyn. Both are very accomplished acoustic guitarists. Both possess the pack-of-Gauloises voice best described as \"smoky\". Both are comfortable playing a folk-jazz hybrid. I don\'t want to be accused of being lazy…. Joe does not often use the conventional song structures of verse//chorus verse/ middle eight, etc. Some of the songs are very carefully constructed, with tasteful string arrangements by bassist Antoine Reininger. Others have a loosely improvised feel. Both approaches help create a mellow \"it\'s so late night, it could be early morning\" feel. Phil Suggitt Shindig Magazine It’s an unfussy affair….his throaty, smoky voice sounding as sustained by life as you might expect from someone twice his age.’’ He sites Dylan as a major influence, but there’ no suggestion that he’s trying to be a clone. Instead you might hear hints of Jansch, John Martyn (especially on Easy Talking) and Nick Drake on these 10 songs about life, love and the world around. Too Late To Pray, a response to the post 9/11 paranoia of America, The Castle a portrait of world weariness and resignation, Say Something a self examination of intent and purpose, Tomorrow Whatever a simple celebration of life. I wish I could sing a good song for you’’ he says on the encouraging This Time Won’t Last Forever. These songs will do for now, Joe, these will do. Mike Davies Net Rhythms If you like your music to be played by storytellers who have taken a few good kicking’s, kept their pecker up and decided to tell the tale then this might be for you.... effortlessly knocks out some f****** superb chord changes that take you into different rooms in a very cool house. Future Now Lying somewhere between folk and mainstream, his music gets under your skin….there’s a strong feeling that here is a singer who cares about the world and it’s sanity….This is a debut album to be recommended if you like acoustic folk-rock and want to hear a talented British musician giving the folk legacy a new British and personal twist. The Morning Star ....spinning the kind of poetics that have you hunting for the lyric sheet. Only there isn\'t one. So you concentrate. These are songs made of enigmatic secrets and oblique tales, painted shadows and time-passages. He\'s a vagabond heart, a smudged boho, a darkly tousled troubadour. Andrew Darlington Soundchecks The high quality packaging (gatefold sleeve) and exquisite production of this CD would give the impression that Joe is already a star on a major label. Considering the professional image and Joe\'s musical talents (guitars, piano, and vocals), it\'s surprising that this is his first solo outing. And the surprises come thick and fast as you listen through these delightful 10 tracks that bubble with a combination of folk, soul, and jazz. Joe\'s delicate acoutic guitar and his soulful vocals lay the foundations on most of the songs but the addition of strings, piano, and other instruments provide even more depth to a very interesting sound. Steve Phillips Spare Room Music An impressive debut album recorded in acoustic style with some impressive fretwork and some beautifully written string parts. Folky and bluesy in parts and sung in a highly committed manner, the album is full of melodic and memorable songs. Other reviewers have drawn comparisons with Bert Jansch in terms of Joe’s impressive guitar work, and artists like Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman, John Martyn and Nick Drake in terms of influences, but Joe is very much an original. Possessing a throaty, emotive voice, it’s obvious that Joe has worked hard on his perceptive lyrics. For a debut album, it’s going to be difficult to follow up. There isn’t a dud track on the album, which gets off to a fine start with the title track “Spotlight,” and continues through nine more songs full of intricate guitar work and haunting melodies. It would be pointless to single out songs, as they are all as good as each other - “The Castle,” “Ships,” “The Rains,” et al are all highly engrossing in their own way. Joe has produced a work of great maturity and is surely going to become a household name. Playing Out Loud