At 15 years of age, Taj Farrant is bound to draw comparisons to a young Joe Bonamassa, Jonny Lang or Derek Trucks. And, no doubt, praise of his playing will conclude with the proviso “… for his age.” But like those now-established, stars Farrant is damn good, period. And his debut release, Chapter One proves it.
With so many great guitarists out there, it takes much more than pure talent to make it and Farrant clearly has what it takes. Already on the radar of peers, he’s been invited to play with Buddy Guy, Eric Gales, Carlos Santana, Joe Bonamassa and others.
In a video interview with Blue Rock Review, he explained that it was fellow Aussie Angus Young who first inspired him to pick up a guitar at age seven, but it was Gary Moore who drew him into the Blues.
Moore could be the poster child for BRR, he was so adept at alternating between rock and blues album releases. Farrant chose a great role model but, as he revealed in the interview, he rarely listens to blues at home. Instead, he listens to other genres, particularly R&B in order to inspire a unique flavor to his compositions.
The second track, “Bad Trip,” represents those R&B influences very well and offers a notable introduction to his vocals. His voice is a young one but strong enough to carry the album throughout. But the fingers, dancing along the fretboard, are those of an old soul.
The opening track, “Beautiful Things,” is a short instrumental reminiscent of Eric Johnson but it introduces the album well, opening the door for something new and unique to follow.
A track entitled “Crossroads,” is clearly autobiographical. Farrant outlines his intent to follow legendary bluesmen who have gone before by heading to the fabled intersection in Clarksdale MS – at least, metaphorically. It mixes some nice slow blues with the purposeful lyrics.
Next up is a very fine instrumental entitled, “Cruz,” highlighting Farrant’s appreciable guitar skills. In his interview with BRR he wisely noted, “You can play one note per minute and if it’s in that perfect moment, it will work.” This tune proves his understanding of well-placed notes and their ability to encompass emotion and feeling.
“The House Always Wins,” and “2X2” are pop/rock offerings with infectious sounds bound to get some airplay on stations presenting a variety of genres. Both feature catchy lyrics and solid guitar solos.
With “Freight Train,” Farrant shows an ability to conjure up imagery through the music. The song builds momentum from the opening note with the increasing speed and rhythm of a train, all the while inviting the listener to immerse themselves in the song and “feel it.”
Beautiful lyrics and haunting melody are punctuated by Farrant’s well-placed guitar solos in “I Give up.” The words reveal much about him as he declares “I can talk with my guitar, …. music calls to me like a home.” The heartfelt emotion expressed will serve him well in connecting with audiences everywhere.
During the interview, Farrant acknowledged the influence of his parents and in “Mumma Raised a Man,” he expresses his gratitude in a totally engaging song. Starting with some slow blues, it quickly explodes into a showcase for guitar and vocals. Sharing personal and genuine feelings are a sure way to gather a loyal fan base and Farrant could not have released a better song to do just that.
At the annual International Blues Challenge, competitors typically play one or two cover tunes so judges have a baseline with which to measure the new artist against an established one. Perhaps unintentionally, Farrant uses the same technique on the album. The final two songs are covers. “Ain’t No Sunshine,” by Bill Withers and “Tightrope” by Stevie Ray Vaughan showcase his love of R&B and blues respectively and he does an admirable job of interpreting and arranging the classics to suit his style. Both covers are done really well, featuring substantial guitar solos.
Much of the album’s music was composed by Farrant while Ken Lewis contributed the bulk of the lyrics. Farrant says he’s only been singing for two years and is just starting to get comfortable with writing lyrics. The two share credits on all but “Crossroads” and “Cruz,” written by Farrant solo, and “Mumma Raised A Man,” which lists his dad Brandin Farrant, James Woods, and Ryan Rivera along with Lewis and Farrant as writers.
Independent artists often release their first albums prematurely with low production qualities and it hurts them in the long run. Such is not the case here. Farrant, with guidance from his parents, understands the ups and downs of being independent and this album is well-produced and professional from start to finish.
Currently working on his second release, the aptly-named Chapter One, promises much more to come and is a great debut effort that shot to number two on the Billboard Blues chart. It comes from a young man destined to be a powerful force in the blues world for a long time.
The Review: 8.5/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– I Give Up
– Freight Train
– Bad Trip
– Mumma Raised a Man
The Big Hit
– Mumma Raised a Man
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