EP review: STEVE BALSAMO – Circle The Wagons

Steve Balsamo came to my musical attention via the country rockers the Storys, who are well worth checking out and sadly another of those bands that had heaps of talent, yet never got the musical success they deserved. He has also written songs for the likes of Meatloaf, Slash and Cliff Richard, along with working with Rob Reed in the prog rock project chimpanA and Rob Reed’s Kompendium.

Steve Balsamo is now planning to release a series of four EP’s, of which ‘Circle the Wagons’ is the first. The songs are mainly in the laid back Americana sound, like ‘Sing Your Soul Back Home’, a song that features some lovely brushed drums and gently strummed guitar. Indeed there is plenty of soulful and passionate singing by Steve Balsamo on all the songs, as he has a wonderfully melodic and expressive vocal.

‘Ships’ and ‘Longer Road’ could easily sit on daytime radio, each has an instant chorus and for those that want a thought provoking lyric both songs have them, or for those who just want an uplifting melody the songs have that too.

The title track is a tour de force, just a piano and Steve’s vocals, both making a powerful impact on the listener. Bizarrely for some reason I could imagine Robbie Williams doing a version of this song!

An EP with six songs brimming with melody and only a fiver on CD via his website, what better way to start your 2019 musical journey? ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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