Like a lot of artists, PM Warson has had a long-time interest in music. After saving for two years to buy a Rickenbacker guitar, he started his first band. From there, he served an apprenticeship as a touring musician with talented jazz players. That led him to Soup Studios, an all-analog facility in East London, where he learned about recording music and started recording his own songs with a group of friends. It seems like every step in the process has meant a new beginning for Warson.
The latest new beginning is his debut LP, True Story, an album that may be brand new but sounds a lot like a return to the past. Specifically, it feels like a soul record from the 60s. It is a record dense with solid rhythms, horns, and organ combined with the soul purpose of getting people to dance. It’s pretty clear that Warson draws influences from some of the soul greats like Ray Charles and Booker T.
It doesn’t take long to realize that the melodies of these songs have some similarity to James Hunter Six. The lead track “Losing and Winning” is a good example. This has the feel of an old soul song with clean guitar tones, a danceable rhythm, and horns that add even more depth to the song. “Say the Word” is a slower tempo song than most of the others. Even so, it’s easy to imagine this song being used in a black and white movie scene where people are dancing in a smoky club where the band members are dressed in full suits.
It’s always a bold move to cover an iconic song, and that is exactly what Warson has done with “I Don’t Need No Doctor”. This version is also driven by the rhythm section and the organ. Similarly, it features female backing vocals. This version goes a little heavier on the guitar. The instrumental break features a soulful guitar solo while later in the song, the guitar takes on a fuzzier tone that would be more suited to the soundtrack of a spy film.
This album is filled with songs to get people dancing, whether it’s in a dark jazz club or the sort of club where the DJ spins a bunch of great records that you’ve never heard. Not that it’s his first time making music, but this is solid effort for a debut album. The players are tight and the melodies are filled with the kind of soul that was recorded 60 years ago.
