Steel Threads, "For Those Who Are Left"

Decades ago, there was a truth in music. If you wanted to hear music that was on the cutting edge, that would make you sit up and take notice, or just make you think, you would look to the United Kingdom. If you wanted music that was on the forefront of musical revolutions, you would look to England. Game-changers and innovators were part of the British Invasion, and many changes in the musical landscape since then have still been influenced by the land of The Queen. It can certainly be argued—probably rightly so—that the record companies hold all the power and influence today, but one truth remains: there’s still lots of good music in and coming out of England.

Steel Threads is the second English band with folk-rock roots I’ve had the honor to review, and it’s quickly discernible that on “For Those Who Are Left”, they take a less-is-more approach. Officially, there are two members in the group. Neil Wardleworth handles acoustic guitar and the bulk of the lead vocals. Laura Wilcockson plays violin and largely sings backup vocals. They also utilize an upright bass, played by session player Stuart Eastham, and a bass drum pedal. A couple other percussion sounds are sprinkled throughout the album, but the strings are the main attraction here. The guitar and violin make for a perfect team, trading melody and backing duties throughout the album.

Wilcockson really shines on “All My Time”, taking a brief turn on lead vocals, and also making the main violin line simultaneously sad and lively. The song itself seems to be placed right at the moment of a breakup, one that both parties seem a bit relieved of. The lyric which really drives that point home: “The idea may sound tough, that I have a dream, it’s more than you, something I will always do. But I could live and love you too, well.” A slight reluctance to say goodbye, but it’s really for the best. The upbeat feel drives home the reality that there are times when it’s best for two people to go their separate ways. “All My Time” is a high point of the album.

The only low point is a few measures of “The Boy Who Lost His Way” where the instrumentation falls apart. The bass drum pedal ends up on the wrong beats, and if you’re not paying close attention to where the beat should be, it sounds like there’s the slightest delay to get everything back on track. To their credit, they recover nicely, both in the rest of the song and the rest of the album. They also vary their sound on the title track, with an electric violin solo that helps lead the song directly into the following—and closing—upbeat number “Twisted Up”. It’s another song that is largely violin-driven, and like “All My Time” earlier, stands out as a highlight.

[EDIT: Per Neil Wardleworth's comment below, it was an intentional choice to vary up the sound in "The Boy Who Lost His Way". I thank Neil for the clarification, and I apologize for misunderstanding what Steel Threads was doing with the song.]

“For Those Who Are Left” probably sounds unlike anything in your collection, because of how Steel Threads blends the violin and acoustic dynamics. They are a worthy addition to anybody’s music mix.

Final rating: 4.0 out of 5

Download “For Those Who Are Left” from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/for-those-who-are-left/id714221593

Steel Threads’ website: http://www.steelthreadsmusic.co.uk/