It’s been three years since Aynsley Lister treated us to the delights of ‘Home’. Released on his own label, and catalysed by the creative autonomy that afforded, it was a watershed moment that ranked as the most accomplished record of the guitarist’s 18 year career. Until now. For if ‘Home’ was the sound of Lister finding his feet, ‘Eyes Wide Open’ sees him strapping on wings.
There’s something deeply rewarding about watching young, blues-based guitar players as their careers progress. Where flash-in-the-pan pop stars and flavour of the moment acts often peak early before creative bankruptcy takes hold, purveyors of six-string thrills rarely come out of the blocks fully formed.
Like Joe Bonamassa and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lister’s singing and songwriting initially lagged behind his fretboard prowess. Over the years lessons have been learned, fat’s been trimmed, clichés discarded and an identity allowed to blossom, resulting in a more impressive all-round game.
‘Eyes Wide Open’ delivers the kind of texturally affluent, diverse and forward thinking blues-rock that encapsulates said artistic evolution. It’s a mature and confident album where the songs take centre stage, motivating every compositional choice as the music and lyrics combine to paint evocative, heartfelt and distinctly atmospheric pictures.
Il Grande Mafioso is unlike anything Lister’s done before, its Sicilian acoustic picking, Chris Isaak twangs and tip-toeing piano strokes depicting the dangerous world of illegal gambling through a film noir lens. Dishevelled, meanwhile, spins a steamy tale about a couple that progresses over the course of a smoky, jazz-filled evening and standout moment Kalina delivers a perfectly woven blend of music, emotion and storytelling. A tragic tale of a bright young woman who took her own life, it features a haunting Chris Rea melody and achingly sad solo that typifies Lister’s ability to communicate empathy through his fingertips.
Although this record builds on the direction laid down by ‘Home’, its energy is very different. By recording these songs live with the minimum of takes, they’ve been gifted a raw, seat-of-the-pants immediacy that apes Lister’s live shows. And that, in turn, has made for a more guitar driven album than its comparatively mellow predecessor.
All of Your Love is a spunky slice of blues-rock propelled down the tracks by a locomotive bass line and stinging riff, arriving at destination awesome courtesy of an earworm chorus and coruscating solo. Elsewhere, crisp ‘n’ crunchy boot-stamper Handful of Doubt shows it spurs with some scorching Lynyrd Skynyrd fretboard action and the American rock anthemics of Time finds Lister’s vocals – which have grown increasingly powerful, controlled and soulful – rising into the sun-kissed stratosphere during its uplifting chorus.
After more restrained soloing last time out, Lister’s fretwork on ‘Eyes Wide Open’ dazzles without ever losing his well-honed knack for writing solos that fit within, rather than dominate, the song. A brooding ball of horn-propelled tension, Everything I have To Give nods to Gary Moore as a series of stress-releasing lead bursts embody its end-of-the-tether lyric. Even better is the moody and defiant Won’t Be Taken Down, where waves of emotive notes ignite over chords that recall Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb.
Imagine Lister’s commercially-charged ‘Equilibrium’ and ‘Home’ gave birth to a prodigious and poetic kid who spent his formative years bouncing between sweaty blues-rock clubs and movie theatres. That’s ‘Eyes Wide Open’. It’s tempting to say it’s the work of an artist at the very top of his game, except Lister isn’t yet 40 and continues to improve with every release. Considering BB King recorded until he was 83, the destinations yet to come make his journey well worth keeping an eye on.
Aynsley Lister Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu December 01 2016 - LONDON Half Moon Putney
Fri December 02 2016 - ST HELENS Citadel Arts Centre
Sat December 03 2016 - DERBY Flowerpot
Sun December 04 2016 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Cluny
Thu December 08 2016 - KENDAL Bootleggers
Fri December 09 2016 - DARLINGTON Forum
Sat December 10 2016 - NORWICH Waterfront Norwich
Sun December 11 2016 - LEICESTER Musician
Mon December 12 2016 - FARNHAM Maltings
Thu December 15 2016 - SOUTHAMPTON Brook
Fri December 16 2016 - SHEFFIELD Greystones
Sat December 17 2016 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy 3
Sun December 18 2016 - EDINBURGH Caves
Thu January 19 2017 - WOLVERHAMPTON Robin 2
Tue January 31 2017 - LONDON 100 Club
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