Josie B
ello is a new York based songwriter who says that she would like to channel Bruce Springsteen into her music. On the basis of Resilience that is selling herself very short.
Bello’s music is Americana in its fullest sense. A mix of Folk, Rock and Country styles on songs that focus on many aspects of American life. ‘The Sound of Guitars, and ‘Coffee Shop Open Mic’ look at the power of folk music particularly to inform and mobilise people as well as entertain them. ‘Rising’ and ‘Resilience’ reflect the experience of many women, or indeed men, in negotiating the world. In the latter she says; “I’m not talking about resistance, my life’s about resilience, pushing through each until the end and trying not to break”
Bello has one of those voices that sounds familiar but is still uniquely her own. Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Janis Ian are among the touch points for her voice. Her music is more “electric” than a lot currently doing the rounds. At 7 years old she expressed a desire to learn guitar, however, her Italian-American family directed her to take accordion lessons. This must be the New York equivalent of taking piano lessons at gunpoint that many British children experience. But the accordion fills out the sound keeping the band feel without resorting to the more pop sounds of endless keyboard washes. Her band, especially guitarist Mike Nugent, are excellent and support the songs without allowing the arrangements to overwhelm them.
In some ways this is quite an old fashioned album. This is a good thing, songwriting and performance take precedence over style and story. She has also followed what seems to be a welcome trend towards shorter albums, 9 songs, well formed and matured in the recording process, rather than 12 plus that have not had the time they needed spent on them.
In 1975 this would have been top twenty material. In the fractured music world of 2022 she should still make some waves with this fine album. Her previous albums are on Bandcamp so by the time you read this ‘Resilience’ should also be there as it’s released on February 2nd 2022. Visit her website as well, as her earlier music is also worth a look. I’m listening to ‘Have Purpose Live Long’ and at $7 is a clear buy for Bandcamp Friday 2022. Mark me as a fan.
