The son of a traveling church minister, Northern Irish singer/songwriter
Foy Vance spent the first five years of his life in the deep south, and he explores those roots on
From Muscle Shoals. The first installment of a two-part dive into roots music, which also includes the Americana-leaning
To Memphis, the ten-track set was recorded at the iconic FAME Studios in Alabama and features a seasoned crew of session players including original "Swampers"
Spooner Oldham (keys) and
David Hood (bass). Comprised of ten cuts, two of which ("Be with Me" and "Make It Rain") are punched-up versions of earlier works,
Vance's 24-grit vocals and bluesy swagger go a long way in selling the material, as does the stellar musicianship of all involved. ~ James Christopher Monger