Willard Grant Conspiracy 'Pilgrim Road'

Back in 2003, Willard Grant Conspiracy (effectively leader Robert Fisher and various collaborators) released 'Regard The End', an immense gothic folk record on the themes of death, redemption and love. It was a monumental album, with Fisher's deep, slow voice delivering sermons over a beautiful landscape of guitars, strings and piano. It was one of the albums of the year and a gig in the perfect setting of London's Union Chapel confirmed Fisher as one of the leading singer songwriters in the Americana genre at the time.

Disappointingly, WGC then made a mess of the follow up album. 2006's 'Let It Roll' was an ill conceived departure, featuring extended rock workouts and psychadelic blues.

Since then Fisher has recruited a formidable number of musicians and collaborators to work on the follow up, which became 'Pilgrim Road'. The album was produced and arranged by Fisher and Malcolm Lindsay, known for his work on film soundtracks and classical music, and features more than twenty musicians playing every instrument you could possibly think of (singing saw....Jerusalem church bells...).

The result is a stunning return to form and a record of some majesty. Piano, violin and acoustic guitars create a perfect background for Fisher's voice and he returns to the old themes of religion, death and redemption. The songs are slow, sombre but uplifting- especially when the gospel choir is involved or when Fisher's voice lifts with the orchestral moves of the music. There are many highlights, but 'The Great Deceiver', sung with Iona McDonald, takes some beating. It is a plea to God for salvation ("where is my fiery serpent...where is my pound of silver") sung beautifully and one of the best things Fisher has ever recorded.

Elsewhere, a cover of American Music Club's 'Miracle on 8th Street' is beautifully understated and 'Jersualem Bells', all piano and violin, is haunting. 'The Pugilist' is a building, confessional epic ending with Fisher asking "when will I be justified?".

'Pilgrim Road' is a beautiful, rich sounding record which plays to Fisher's strengths unlike it's predecessor. This is a work on a par with 'Regard The End', sombre and mournful but uplifting.

9.0

'Pilgrim Road' is out now on Loose Music. Willard Grant Conspiracy tour the UK this month.