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REVIEWS

Sean Taylor—The End Of The Rainbow—Self Re-
lease

Sean Taylor is a UK based artist well known across the

British blues circuit and out across Europe too. Having
received UK blues awards nominations and much ac-
claim for his sublime songwriting Sean has released
another gem of an album with, “The End Of The Rain-

bow”.

The album opens with ‘Berlin’ a nice bluesy vignette of
Berlin itself whilst ‘Eternal Damnation’ has that driv-
ing Rolling Stones guitar sound to it. Things mellow down a little with the gentle

piano work on ‘Invitation’ which also features a nice touch of Cello from Brian
Standefer. The lyrics here could have been written by Leonard Cohen it has that sort
of feel to it. There is a bleak message on life in the song ‘2024’ which has a Help Me

type beat to carry it along. The touches of harmonica from Errol Linton and lush
Hammond sounds from Justin Carroll really drives this on.

‘DWP’ is a slow piano based tale of Sean’s own first hand experience of the DWP!
‘Mary Jane’ is a nice and pleasant folk song punctuated with some lovely banjo and

mandolin touches from Ben Walker. ‘Searching For Skip James’ is Sean’s take on this
story well known to blues enthusiasts, with some beautiful Wurlitzer driving this
jazzy styled blues along.

There are some nice guitar picking patterns on ‘The End’ which brought to mind the
style of Eric Bibb. ‘Way Down In Enniscorthy’ is a barrelhouse blues with a rolling
piano and some lovely backing vocals from Donna Edmead. ‘Only Beauty Can Save
The World’ is a beautiful piano ballad with some nice touches of violin from Basia
Bartz before the album closes with a celebration of Mother Earth on the rousing ‘Gaia’.

The bass work and percussion from Mike Seal and Paulina Szczepaniak respectively
is both understated and highly effective in enhancing the overall sound. By sprinkling
different instruments from guest artists throughout the album it helps to keep things

both fresh and interesting.

As always Sean’s guitar and piano work are impeccable and his lyrics sublime. If
anything Sean’s voice has matured and is much more soft and refined and flows
effortlessly throughout.

Sean is now top of his game as one of our best songwriters and this album is right up
there with the best. If you are new to Sean’s work I suggest you give this a listen and
I will guarantee you will be scrolling through his large back catalogue in no time,
great album.

Ged Wilson