Trouble

Ray Lamontagne can solve any problem with the sound of his voice and the strum of his guitar.

Although the album Trouble was released in 2004, I have only recently discovered, and fallen in love with, the raspy tones of Ray's voice thanks to a tweet by Mr Harry Styles (ravishingly handsome and a good taste in music, yes please). The fact that his powerful lyrics and acoustic use of guitar is still widely appreciated nine years later just shows how timeless and classic his music is.

Focusing on just a few of the wonderful songs; Shelter has a relaxed atmosphere as Ray effortlessly puts an almost swelling effect on the chorus, Jolene and All The Wild Horses include the use of strings to just lift you into the world of the songs and carry you on a calm yet heartfelt journey that Ray paints with his poetic lyrics and Burn is just the most beautiful song I think I have ever heard. There is such a simplistic instrumental of one guitar accompanying the powerful lyrics in this song that it's impossible for his raw, raspy voice not to completely encompass you. When he sings "making me mad" oh my oh my I almost crumble under the gravelly way he explores pain. Clearly a brilliant songwriter, it is evident that Ray is a bloody powerful singer too. I just can't get enough of his voice and I highly recommend that you listen to whatever Ray Lamontagne song you can.

I seem to be getting more into my folksy music at the moment, I recently added Eva Cassidy to my ipod too (I used to spend hours listening to her rendition of Fields Of Gold and Over The Rainbow on repeat).
Have you discovered any old gems recently?