Album Review: A Different Thread - Over Again

Through an appealing collection of songs, transatlantic duo A Different Thread share a warm glow of what life deals you. Whether narrating through characters or directly focussing on personal experience, Alicia Best and Robert Jackson carve a connective path where the music matters. OVER AGAIN has taken its time to get over the line but when you have the back story of this couple, good things are worth waiting for. The eleven songs each form a part of a meaningful mosaic crossing the threshold of listener enjoyment. You sense we are all in this together and artists successfully transmitting this tap into a rich vein.

After a decade of red tape wrangling, criss-crossing the ocean and seizing limited opportunities, Best and Jackson are now settled in North Carolina. However the English Midlands will forever remain close to their heart and a sense of celebration is conveyed in the buoyant reception this largely positive album gets. 

A Different Thread are absolutely rooted in the folky side of Americana where a timeless sound interjects with modern themes. The whole roots span gets a nod from traditional country to contemporary singer-songwriter with the duo sculpting their own identity without the need to draw luminary comparisons. OVER AGAIN stands proud as a prime piece of individualist music.

Title track ‘Over and Again’ warrants its opening slot status as it encompasses what A Different Thread stand for, namely positivity dressed in a multi dimensional cloak of fine musicianship, clear vocals and a sweet sounding melody. These traits set a trend diligently followed. ‘Sorrow Brings Me Joy’ adds mischievous wordplay into the mix with sumptuous harmonies and a memorable chorus upping the ante. Best opens the vocals on ‘The Prophet’, a character piece diving deep into a melange of issues from religion to climate change. This exhibits the writing at its strongest. 

Jackson takes over the lead on ‘Sweet and the Burn’ as the electric kicks in with a saunter into a more gothic realm. All adding to the album’s diversity and the band’s desire to explore creative nuances. A gentle rolling harmonica intro to ‘Always Leaving’ brings a sunny disposition to the notion of keeping on the move. Without namedropping, there is a definite sixties feel, from swinging London to carefree California, to the sound. Overtly catchy numbers extend an album’s appeal and the fun and moving tones to ‘Come On Home Molly’ serve this record well. A playlist candidate as a minimum and an integral album track to the core.

There are numerous takes from ‘Goodbye Muddy Waters’, mostly sentiment. The theme of ‘Columbine’ is self explanatory evoking US/UK differences by association if not intent. ‘Amaranth’ and ‘Deep Water Fish’ are two of the tracks available through videos with a glowing beauty to the former and the latter wrapped in heartfelt emotion. On an album clearly motivated by the concept of place, it is fitting ‘Leon’ features as the closer with its theme of the mind effectively taking you anywhere. 

A Different Thread effortlessly ascend the ladder of awareness with an album of immense adoration. OVER AGAIN captures the spirit of a journey and the joyous solidification of putting down roots. The world is a smaller and more collaborative place when a record documenting so much feeling as this spreads its wings. 

www.adifferentthread.com