5 Reasons You Should Listen To JP Oldfield's New EP Saltwater Gospel

If you are looking for something a little different from the usual roots release, JP Oldfield’s Saltwater Gospel is worth checking out. Here are five reasons the new EP deserves your attention.

1. It tells a story from start to finish

The six tracks work together as one story, following a Ferryman caught between life and death. His journey takes him through grief, revenge, religion, guilt and, eventually, acceptance. Each song adds another part to the story, making the EP best heard in order.

2. The sound is instantly recognisable

Oldfield builds the music around resonator guitar and his naturally deep baritone. His self-taught playing style includes hybrid picking and alternative tunings, giving the guitar plenty of detail without relying on a full band.

3. The subject matter is far from predictable

Maritime folklore, buried angels, floods, churches and the afterlife all feature across the EP. Oldfield has created his own mythology rather than sticking to the usual roots music subjects.

4. It is genuinely independent

Oldfield wrote all six songs, created the artwork using traditional linocut techniques and developed the mythology behind the release himself. The music, story and visual elements all come from the same creative process.

5. The vocals give it a character of its own

Oldfield has a naturally low vocal range. His deep baritone suits the darker material and gives the Ferryman a voice that fits the setting of the story.

Out now via Now Listen, Saltwater Gospel brings together dark folk, blues and Americana with an unusual concept and a distinctive vocal and guitar sound. If you want something outside the standard roots formula, it is worth giving the full six tracks a spin.