We last featured Joseph Turner & The Dudes of Hazard for exploring fear and transformation on the cerebral single, The Shadow Remains, so when we heard that the project had returned with Backbone, we couldn’t wait to immerse ourselves and share our experience.
Backbone opens with subtle nature sounds and twanging microtonal guitars with the sound of a shovel digging. The opening lyrics are situational with choral affirmations as we are taken on a dark-Americana journey. In essence, the song is about perseverance, the concept of digging deeper and “finding the push to keep moving” when life continues to throw obstacles in our way.
The message feels uplifting yet philosophical – classic Joseph. The composition expands into a playful acoustic roots-rock tapestry, with foot stomps, handclaps, harmonica and driving gang vocals which create an infectious work-song energy. There is something almost primal about it. The Southern character reminds us of Colter Wall and the kind of road-worn Americana that would feel perfectly at home in a TV show like, True Blood or a movie like the Oscar-winning, One Battle After Another.
As Joseph explains, Backbone is “a reminder to keep going when things get tough”, but there is humour and mischief running through the writing too, which makes it feel more like a few friends finding their rhythm after a long day. The artist describes it as a song about “rolling up your sleeves, getting your feet dirty and finding the energy to keep moving”, and that physicality is beautifully reflected in the production.
The recording process adds another layer of intrigue too. Joseph initially used necklaces to create the sound of a shovel before recording a real shovel. We could also imagine Backbone soundtracking a dusty road-trip sequence in a film like Hell or High Water, or one of those beautifully imperfect moments in Yellowstone.
Needless to say, Backbone is a wonderfully gritty and uplifting release. We have added the track to our New Music Spotlight and TIMELESS playlists, whilst we continue to keep an eye on what manifests next from Joseph Turner & The Dudes of Hazard.