This is Bonneville’s sixth album and while his previous discs have all been solid, the decision to record this with Gurf Morlix as producer has resulted in his finest album so far.
He’s an artist who mixes blues, folk and country into a unique cocktail – there’s no one who sounds quite like him, but it’s easy to pick out styles and influences across the 12 songs on ‘Goin’ by Feel’.
While always a strong writer with a real touch for detail and imagery, it’s this disc that really highlights his abilities as a writer; it’s a combination of some great songs and some sensitive production and it results in some powerful pieces.
‘Carry the Fallen’ is a memorable portrait of war and it’s emotional consequences, and ‘I Am the Big Easy’ is dripping with atmosphere and the soul of New Orleans.
The relatively spare use of instrumentation shows off Bonneville’s expressive guitar and harmonica work to the full, but there’s also percussion and bass throughout, and a subtle range of other instruments. Eliza Gilkyson provides a good amount of harmony vocals throughout, and the balance between his world weary vocals and the smoothness of Eliza’s singing is especially effective.
This is a mature and hard-hitting album full of real atmosphere and character, and the best album of Bonneville’s career – if you’ve not heard him in the past this is the place to start.

Track listing
1 Crow John
2 What Katy Did
3 Sabine River
4 Cemetery Road
5 I Am the Big Easy
6 So Long Blues
7 Reckless Feeling
8 Carry the Fallen
9 Goin' By Feel
10 Shy Star
11 Run Jolee Run
12 Cool Cool Rain

£13.49