A Patch of Blue SkyMusic ****

It's been nine years since the last Kevin Welch solo album, but the 55-year-old California-born singer-songwriter has been busy. There was the exceptional hat-trick of Kane Welch Kaplin albums from 2004-2007 (with Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin) and sundry other projects, including a visit to Australia, which provided the material for two stirring tales of natural disaster, The Great Emancipationand Marysville.The latter chronicles the terrible end of a small community consumed in the great bush fire in VIctoria in 2009. Welch is adept at all ends of the Americana spectrum, and this collection drifts easily from gospel to folky country. The closing two songs, That's How It Feelsand the title track, offer some hope while showcasing the strength of his singing, his band and the production.

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Download tracks:

A Patch of Blue Sky, Come A Rain, Marysville