Bray Vista - Let It Ride

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 24 / 10 / 2009

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Let It Ride’ is the second full-length album ( the band has also released a couple of E.P.s ) from the County Wicklow nine piece who make a good case over these twelve original songs that they are up in the top five bands who are keeping the country music flag flying. There are even moments during some of the songs here, not least on opener, ‘Someone To Hold’ when one is almost tempted to say that Bray Vista should be at the top of that list. The twelve songs are all written by vocalist / guitarist Neil Tobin who is one of the best vocalists in this genre right now ; his vocals sound like he has lived every word of the songs he sings, world-weary but never without passion. The only female vocalist in the band, Alison Byrne, co-wrote one song, ‘If It’s Alright’ with Tobin. Some of the band have been playing together for nine years now and it shows in the sound they create. While the smooth production by double Grammy winner Jim Lauderdale, along with co-producer Leo Pearson, no doubt has plenty to do with the overall recorded sound the fact that the band have built up a loyal following due to their live shows proves that they cut it on stage as well as on tape. As one would expect on an album where the band show their country influences so proudly the songs are fleshed out by accordion, pedal steel, banjo and mandolin. For the most part the songs don’t stray too far off the well-trodden country path. The problem for most bands who feel no need to try to disguise their love of country music is to make it appeal to those who usually cross the road to avoid any music where the term country could be even loosely applied. Bray Vista succeed in making their take on country music appeal to a wide audience on two counts; their melodies, on this showing at least, have a warmness about them that wraps around the listener engulfing you in their sound and world and the vocals, although not always handled by the talented Neil Tobin, are a major attraction in the bands sound. Many people, even those of us who enjoy country music, notice a lack of any real passion in some country vocalists but Bray Vista, despite having no less than six vocalists which could have made this collection of songs very disjointed, show emotion throughout the whole album. The vocals, without exception, are excellent, but if nit-picking it would have been nice to have Alison Byrne taking a few more lead vocals. Byrne’s lead on ‘Come Back Home’ is one of the vocal highlights on the album and is a good case for letting this talented singer take more leads. Not an easy decision I guess when there are five more excellent vocalists all vying for the job but Byrne’s vocals are one of the reasons that Bray Vista stand out from the current bunch of country inspired bands. There’s not really a dud song on ‘Let It Ride’, but the chugging run-of the –mill ‘Love’ is the least appealing song on offer. Most country influenced bands could probably match that song and although the band sound like they are enjoying the performance it doesn’t show them at their best in the studio. Live, no doubt, the song would stand up better but on record it lacks the magic of the other songs. As with all good albums from bands that are new to us ‘Let It Ride’ has made me want to check out Bray Vista’s previous work to see if it is as good as their latest offering. With an appealing cover, songs that linger long after the CD has stopped playing and outstanding production and playing Bray Vista have made one of the most surprising and satisfying albums I have heard over the last few months.

Track Listing:-

1 Someone to Hold
2 Love Untold
3 Love
4 Never Been One
5 This Time Is the First Time
6 If It's Alright
7 Never Letting Go
8 If You Will
9 First Impressions
10 Come Back Home
11 All Comes Down to This
12 Let It Ride

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