Review: Rooftop Collective

As some of you may or may not have noticed through reading my blog- I am a bit of a music fanatic, particularly folk/rock styles. I have been writing reviews for ‘For Folk’s Sake’ for the past few years and before that I wrote for various other music sites. So when I spotted that an old classmate had started making folk/blues music of his own - I had to give it a listen.

Now I remember James from school as being the musical protégé- always one step ahead of the class. So I’m not surprised that he’s making music now and is doing so under the name of ‘Rooftop Collective’.

The Collective’s music brings together a talent for songwriting with skilful blues styling to form a modern day take on folk music. The harmonica melodies inspire images of years gone by, while the lyrics speak of modern day issues. Each song tells a tale tinged with melancholy and yet manages to present it in a wistful way. ‘Master Dreamer’ resonates with me personally, (as a fellow master dreamer), and ‘My Best Friend’ tells a sweet story of friendship and loss. The standout track for me however has to be ‘It’s Over’, where heart wrenching vocals lie over a lethargic bass line, showing off James’ writing skills beautifully.

Overall I think Rooftop Collective have the makings of a great first EP and are clearly destined for a bright future. Check out their music for yourselves here and while your at it, go 'like the facebook page here ;)