Self release [Release date 11.04.25]

Dave Packham is a singer song writer based in Shoreham-by-Sea East Sussex, who uses emotional turmoil as creative energy, on an album that I somehow overlooked on its release well over a year ago.

It’s been worth the wait, as ‘The Wedding Dance’ is an impressive contemporary slice of soulful R&B, with belated hints of psychedelia on which he brings his versatile vocals to bear on every facet of love.

He also benefits from some sterling band support from David Coomber on Drums and bassist Ben Mead on a nuanced production full of sonic detail.

Half way through this album, it dawned on me (rightly or wrongly), that the album title might be ironic, for while a wedding dance serves to reconfirm a commitment, for the most part Dave Packham’s reflective soulful journey is often that of an outsider, or lover spurned.

His vocal versatility effortlessly conveys the feel of relationship and story telling narratives, given further purchase by colourful band band arrangements.

The combination of his soulful textures, intricate guitar playing and melodic bent unlocks the key to his emotive song-writing.

Technically he’s good at breath control and holding sustained notes while he revels in reedy flexible phrasing which allows him to illuminate his own lyrical imagery, as on ‘King And Queen’.

He does though have an occasional tendency to slur his diction which sometimes obfuscates lyrical intent, but the chorus is a simple affirmation of his love: “You make me feel like a king, won’t you be my queen hold my hand, we can conquer anything.”

It’s tempting see the opening ‘And I Love Her’ as a template for the album as a whole, being a Monophonics influenced soul song, right down to the accented guitar.

The song’s titular meaning is also one he explores in several different ways.

The album also twists, turns to surprise us with its musically diversity, as on the atmospheric ‘Every Now And Then’.

The intuitively produced track frames chiming guitars and what sounds like a hand drum, while he again declares his yearning on a cleverly reversed refrain, before being subsumed by sustained guitar and bv’s into a perfunctory drop down.

“Will I be tall, will I be small, will I be rich, will I be poor, I don’t care at all,

Will I be rich, will I be poor, will I be small, will I be tall, I don’t care at all, as long as I’m with you.”

‘Magic Marker’ is different again, with a spine tingly acoustic opening and just a hint of echo, while his whispered vocal evokes the late Nick Drake.

There’s no note or word wasted here, on a short track that oozes intimacy, yearning and feel.

It makes the musical rupture on the following bluesy ‘One Step Away’ all the more surprising, as the album’s gentle flow is torn asunder by a booming chorus with buzz guitar and percussive bluster.

There’s more band interplay on the soulful and funky groove of ‘Player’, which features an animated vocal and stinging lyrics, given an uplifting feel by a climactic edgy solo.

‘Window Open’ is predicated on a military shuffle with a jangly guitar intro, as he reaffirms his love over cooing bv’s.

He then toughens up the music to match lyrical angst on ‘You Don’t Know Me’.

He wedges the pessimistic line: “We’re all destined to dig our own graves,” in between some edgy guitar, rumbling bass, restless phrasing and a snappy hook.

It also makes the spacey echo reverb outro all the more surprising as it is interesting.

And as if inspired by the above, the closing instrumental ‘Birds Are Singing’ is a slice of retro psychedelia.

Impeccably mixed by Julian Tardo, it features draws on the dynamic contrast between his sinewy guitar and Coomber’s insistent cymbal work, and a New Order style power chord with a wall of sound punctuated by busy drums.

It feels like a cathartic release to all that’s gone before.

One part soul, one part R&B and a mix of folk, roots-rock and occasional funk, this is a thoughtfully conceived, passionate, well crafted song-led album which achieves it’s goal by serving the songs of a modern day confessional singer songwriter.

Dave Packham leaves his ego on the shelf and opens himself up to a range of emotions, which allow his voice and spirit tap into the great beyond. No better place. ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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Josh now hosts “Taerk’s Tracks” as part of the Singer Songwriter Sunday sequence on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.

This is the first show broadcast on 27 September. Josh presents some of his inspirational artists and tracks.

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast 20 September 2026.

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Power Plays w/c 28 September 2026

HARDCORE SUPERSTAR – Halo (Frontiers)
THUNDERNOTHER Bimbo Boost (Napalm Records)
ELYSION Dead Loves (Massacre Records)
CHRIS JOHNSON & THE HOLLYWOOD HILLBILLIES Till The End Of Time (Rustbelt Electric)
LAKE Ordinary People (indie)
CRASHING WAYWARD Bullet For Heart (Golden Robot Records)
DEAD POET SOCIETY Miami For The Weekend (Spinefarm)

Featured Albums w/c 28 September 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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