Brooklyn based Singer/songwriter Zephaniah Ohora follows-up his 2017 debut This Highway with his sophomore release Listening to the Music – another polished set of traditional country-inspired songs. Where This Highway recalls the Bakersfield sound of late ’60s, Listening to the Music is its reflective ’70s country counterpart. The latest LP was produced by the late guitarist singer/songwriter Neal Casal and includes guest musicians: Norm Hamlet (Merle Haggard), Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson), and Jon Graboff (NY pedal steel guru) among others. This set of contemporary country songs features urban themes filtered through classic country sounds, played by a multi-generational band assembled by Ohora and Casal. Standout tracks include: the hazy ballad “Emily”; the plea to come together in troubled times, “All American Singer”; the anti-gentrification “Living Too Long”; the rollicking “Black & Blue”; the lost love ballad co-written by Dori Freeman “When I’ve No More Tears To Cry”; the upbeat Texas swing tinged “Riding That Train”; and the slow rambling closing track, “Time Won’t Take Its Time.” Zephaniah Ohora’s Listening to the Music is one of the most classic sounding country albums I’ve heard in a while. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Paul Cauthen, JP Harris, Joshus Hedley, Jeremy Pinnell, Western Centuries