Salvation Station
Artist: Newworldson
Label: Inpop
Length:  11 Tracks / 46 mins
 
You get the feeling that if anything is going to stand out from the ranks of CCM and make a success of it, the band has to not only be original, but have American musical roots and be fine musicians to boot. Hello, Newworldson!
 
The Canadian quartet proves that you can take a blend of various genres and still make a sound that is truly your own. They build on the spirit of blues, speeded up with some ‘50s soul, given a sheen of ‘70s funk and – on the last two tracks – a taste of the jamming that brought them together in a jazz club. On the fine “Working Man” they even incorporate a bit of British ‘80s ska that brings Madness and The Specials to mind, albeit with a more classic, bluesy style of organ. Drawing on so many sources means that you can look forward to something fresh with every track.
 
Swimming in this huge reservoir of musical history are more individual influences.  You can hardly hear “Sweet Holy Spirit” without also hearing Ray Charles, and this comfortable appropriation of a predominantly black sound by a white band is something that I have only heard recently from Mike Farris, although Newworldson have a much lighter take on the whole thing. 
 
What gives them their own sound is Joel Parisien’s distinctive vocal and a sense of fun. Remarkably, they throw out an impression that they don’t take themselves too seriously, while they are clearly fine musicians with a good nose for a strong song. The solid rhythm section of makes a superb contribution to the disc’s success.
 
A more lightweight release, it has a playfulness that belies the points it makes. Like most tracks, “Working Man” doesn’t do deep lyrics, but has a tongue-in-cheek way of conveying its thrust: “I am a working man, I get things done / Work for the Holy Ghost, work for the Son / I am a working man, oh yes I am / I am a special agent working for the lamb”. The kazoo solo in “Citybus Lovesong” only helps their easy-going feel.
 
Taking its tone from a simpler time and the vibe of original R&B, the whole disc is punchily-paced, memorable and fresh.
 
Derek Walker