There will be talk that he’s only 16.
There will be talk that he’s not lived a full life to really have the soul, have the experience to sing the blues.
There will be talk that he’s a wonder kid.
Oh, yes, there will be talk of Ray Goren. The young impresario delivers the goods in his debut EP Save My Soul. Never lacking for fresh licks and captivating musicianship, the five-track collection is packed full of charm, grit and guitar envy.
The title track is a smooth, blues-rock slam. What surprised me most – besides the spectacular guitar work – is Goren’s voice. He not only can sing, but he connects in a way that doesn’t pander to the audience as a young teen might in the pop world. He doesn’t over-sing.
“Stop” is an instant listener connection. Just impressive. The guitar bridge is a bit drawn out, but hey, work it Goren. Work those licks!
“Rise Together” is a bit slower of a track, but the pesky percussion mixed with Goren’s straight-ahead vocals is only amplified by the free-stying frets. “Can’t Live” is slower, too, and fills the spaces with a bit more atmospheric sounds. This track felt a bit more pop than blues rock.
“I Need You Here To Stay” is a bit like “Stop” in that it has a solid pattern. The music bed is catchy and Goren’s guitar solo catapults to near levels.
Yes, there will be talk about Goren. It’s obvious from his showmanship and solid work on Save My Soul why he opened for the legendary BB King on select dates. Go ahead, select this collection for your own music library. High marks!
