Album Notes

"Backed by Mersey band Ella Guru, They’ve Got Nothing On You is a fine suite of rootsy folk, in the vein of Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Opener ‘Your Face It Cracks’ demonstrates to good effect Wilkes gravel-toned voice and Ashcroft swagger. However, it’s the sparse and haunting title track which impresses the most. We may have a young John Martyn in the making" HOTPRESS Magazine

"One of the few artists around right now who can carry the label ‘acoustic singer-songwriter’ with any measure of dignity... The cottage in Wales where they recorded three of the four tracks also somehow has a presence in this languid, intimate record... And as ever, with Wilkes it all comes down to the music – folk and pop and the Cowboy Junkies and the Beatles all melting into one until what we have are four songs, a perfect accompaniment to walking in the rain, dreaming over a cup of coffee, late mornings and gentle come downs. Lovely" Crud Magazine

"There are times when a recording absorbs much more than just the experience and craftsmanship of artist or producer alone. This 4-track EP from UK singer-songwriter Paul Wilkes is a case in point. Recorded over two days on portable equipment in a small, old cottage in Wales, there is an ethereal quality – almost a living, breathing addition to the recording – that is both spooky and completely compelling... There are echoes of early Neil Young alongside an ease and comfort of any chosen West Coast troubadour, but at the core is a distinctive mind and voice that offers a refreshing take on life’s emotional roller coaster. Every now and again a singer-songwriter emerges from the pack – yes, some do, even without TV commercials – with a new sound or a new approach. Wilkes arguably has neither of those but will make his mark by the strength of his songs and the integrity of their conception. On the evidence of this EP I am eagerly awaiting a full length offering." americana-uk.com

"It's no wonder people are piling praise for the man. Paul Wilkes reminds me sometimes of the honesty of John Lennon, the rough, jagged voice of Julian Cope maybe even a touch of Richard Ashcroft without the pomposity whilst musically mellow & soft. Touching yet uplifting. Paul Wilkes is making a quiet revolution with his beautifully crafted songs. In a world when only mediocrity is required, he is making touching, life affirming singer songwriter musings yet without sounding 'like the rest' or hitting that blandness that the most plow into when they run out of ideas. Everything here is fresh... he will go far. Just sit down & relax. Take the time out to listen to a man who writes from the heart." theplasticashtray.co.uk

After the success of his last acclaimed EP, Walkin’ The Long Road, Paul wanted to keep moving forward with his music, and he knew that what he needed was to get some other musicians involved. But the rather big problem was he’d never met any he’d hit it off with. Then fate lent a hand; a fan passed a copy of the Long Road EP onto a couple of the lads in the critically acclaimed band Ella Guru, and they loved it. They ended up meeting through a mutual friend and chatted about music. A few days later the lads - Scott Marmion; pedal steel (who also plays guitar), Bob Picken; double bass, cello, harmonica, and Bren Moore; drums - had their first session with Paul on vocals and guitar, and they’ve never looked back. “We’ve hit it off superbly. I’m made up. I think it’s simply because we all love the same music” says Paul. In fact, they’d only been playing together for about two months and done one gig together before recording the EP!

The four-track EP features three songs with the band and one, the title track, is a solo performance; ‘They’ve Got Nothing On You’ is a deeply personal song about a family tragedy, but Paul soon realised that the song touched plenty of other people in their own way; “I wrote it very shortly after I recorded the Long Road EP and I played it at all the gigs I did and everyone seemed to really love it, which was unexpected but great”. The other three songs were recorded over two sunny July days in a cottage in Wales on Paul’s portable studio equipment. The recording was simple – Neil Young esque – they all plugged in and played. A few overdubs and then a few days mixing and mastering afterwards and it was job done. “I, well all of the band, want the music to capture a moment and have an energy, which you can only get by playing live. That’s what our style of music is all about really; live” Paul says “I think it’s captured the feel of the cottage too, it’s certainly got its own sound. I’m really pleased with it. It’s progress.” Progress towards the debut album next year…