Indie act, American singer-songwriter Willy Porter may be a new name to most, but this talented singer-songwriter can call on Al Kooper (Bob Dylan, Blood, Seat & Tears) as a fan. By the time you have allowed the material from Human Kindness seep into your mind you will most likely be one too. Creative, and entertaining from beginning to end Porter defies categories, and has a disregard for music’s boundaries as various hues are introduced, worked up and served.
Recorded in Milwaukee, Porter plays 6, 9, 12, gut-string acoustic, slide and electric guitar and has Dave Adler (acoustic piano, synthesizers, mellotron, organ), Brian Mir (bass guitar), Aaron Gardner (tenor sax & flute), Dave Schoepke (drums, percussion) and Carmen Nickerson (lead, backing vocals) for the core of the studio band. Plus a swath of guest to include Martin Barre (electric guitar), Peter Mulvey and Natalia Zukerman (pedal steel) to combine to produce a slick, tightly formed sound. Though a little bigger on production than I prefer, Porter’s work on the likes of “This Train”; as he lends a keener restless, swampy horns and organ induced feel to his usual lighter funky sound as he takes the listener on through America’s southern states is outstanding.
On occasions Porter’s music reminds me of Texas singer-songwriter Darden Smith, due to the artful manner he goes about his business, and ability to cover his work in layers of sound. He is a most fine guitar player too. Just take a listen to impassioned ode “My Bird Can Sing”, before he eases back on the production for whimsical gem “Try To Forget”. Doused in fetching harmony vocals, steel guitar (William Dillon), Barre’s lead guitar and chugging rhythm it offers a sweet tenderness fuelled with an infectious edge.
Others of note to go with the above Porter also provides bustling ode “Roses in The Rain” and with whistling intro poppy piece “Chippewa Boots”, “Elouise” and with pounding rhythm the left-off-centre “A Love Like This”. Here he is joined by Nickerson on lead vocals, and with a horn section and busy rhythm section the song near goes into orbit so fine is the production.
Maurice Hope