Once a treasure of the folk circuit, Ruarri Joseph had been leading a double existence, 4 studio albums in under his own name the singer created an alter-ego, William the Conqueror, as a way of being able to play live music away from the obligatory promotional touring, and hit a vein of creativity recording a catalogue of new music in his garage and finally deciding to switch things round, bringing William to the forefront and sending Joseph (at least the persona of him!) back into the shadows.
Bursting with retro-infused energy, there are a myriad influences, underpinned by a taste for good, old-fashioned roots. One minute it’s a hushed JJ Cale that somehow finds its way to an angry Jim Morrison or a 60’s Dylan; the next it’s a grunge era Pearl Jam via Leonard Cohen and a nod to Tom Waits. What is undoubtedly unique is the rich, earnest voice and the poetic nuance of a man clearly wise to the complexities and hardships of love and life.