Setting the tone with an immersive, meditative soundscape and rolling drums, Ari Joshua opens his re-imagining of Grateful Dead‘s Help On the Way with a somewhat peace-inspired energy. The opus expands with atmospheric vocals and evocative instrumentation demonstrating nothing short of the mastery that we have come to expect from the visionary composer.
We appreciate the magnetic guitar riffs and the dimensional bassline, as well as the poetic prowess conveyed with the iconic lyricism. The composition showcases evocative ebbs and flows, further amplifying the dynamic nature of the journey and needless to say, we are in awe.
Help On the Way has a psychedelic and scintillating edge, which we connect with deeply; and the dimensional nature of what Ari Joshua designs with his work is tangible on the track.
Speaking on the release, Ari confesses, “Help On the Way is a tribute to the Grateful Dead done in our own way.” The opus features drummer John Kimock, bassist Andy Hess, and keyboardist Eden Ladin, as well as Ari Joshua leading the band as vocalist, guitarist, and producer!
Elaborating on his inspiration for creating this version of the song, Ari tells us, “On the way to summer camp, an older kid with a battery-powered boombox had the cardboard double-disc version of One from the Vault, it must have made an impression, I bought the cassette and CD both. I felt a connection to the muses, the angels, and the cosmic forces, all perfectly reflected into poetry and melody. Later, I saw the original band play “Help” with Garcia. It’s a beautiful song. It’s a masterpiece. I am grateful to be able to team up with this incredible cast to share this recording.”
We learn that the group recorded at Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, and Help On the Way marks the fourth song to emerge from this lineup following their cover of Eyes of the World, as well as the two original tracks, Lights Out and Eye Just Called to Soul, I Love You.
Help On the Way has been added to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream Ari Joshua’s growing discography and collaborative projects.