When the term Americana crops up in a conversation among music fans, usually the first things that come up to mind are any country music variations, probably with a lot of pedal steel guitars and/or fiddles, banjos, whatnot, that signifies the usual country music paraphernalia.
Of course, that is not even close but is usually enough to deter those listeners that do not fancy much such a sound. It is then quite interesting how they would categorize the music of singer/songwriter (and guitar player) Danny Wilson and his “Champions of The World” and what they have come up with musically on their latest album, Brilliant Light.
Wilson and the band have been around for a while, their first album came “way back” in 2008, and Brilliant Light is their sixth album proper. They are considered the prime British Americana band, but then, how can you play Americana, if you are not American?
Judging by Brilliant Light, easily. First of all, being together for a decade or so and playing regularly live gives you the capability to tighten and hone down your sound almost to perfection, which by the evidence here, Danny & The Champions of the World have done here.
Secondly, Danny and his band have taken the concept of Americana more widely than is usually expected - they have mixed in all the ‘roots’ flavors you could think of - from standard rock licks to the soul, r&b, blues, of course, country and even old timey music hall.
But the band is not simply running through the motions or showing off their obviously quite extensive roots music collection, but are doing it with flair, knowledge and most of all true feel for the music they are, mhm, championing.
You don’t need necessarily to start from the opening “Waiting For The Right Time”, you can pick any of the 18 tracks here, and it can be both the beginning and the end of the album. Danny & The Champions Of The World know exactly what they’re doing and they do it too perfectly into any summer dusk or dawn, your choice.
Of course, you can always debate, whether they are true champions of the world, but they certainly know how to properly champion American, roots music, or whatever you want to call it.
