JOSH FERRIE 'RIDIN' THE WAVE'

Josh Ferrie’s debut mini-album ridin’ the wave feels like a snapshot taken at a crossroads. Recorded while he was waiting to pull a band together, it stands as a stripped-back, bluesy calling card that foregrounds his real strength: fluid, confident acoustic guitar work and a deep understanding of blues and R&B tradition.

This is not the record of a “natural” singer, and Ferrie doesn’t pretend otherwise. His voice is rough around the edges, sometimes more growl than polish, but crucially it suits these songs just fine. In fact, that unvarnished quality often works in his favour, lending the material an honesty that glossy vocals might have dulled.

The mini-album kicks off with “Burnin’ Rubber,” a muscular opener built on a bluesy chug and flashes of nimble lead-line flair. It immediately establishes the tone: rootsy, rhythmic, and guitar-forward. Ferrie’s voice finds its sweet spot here too, delivering a gritty growl that’s a perfect match for this blues stomp.

Next comes a quick, smooth cover of Fats Domino’s “Three Nights a Week.” Ferrie treats the old R&B tune with respect, running through it briskly and confidently before turning back to original material with “Here to Stay.” This track underlines that he’s not just a guitarist but a capable songwriter as well, with a solid melodic sense and vocals that sit comfortably within the song’s framework.

“Loud n Clear” opens with some tasteful guitar picking and moves into a more impassioned vocal delivery. The guitar work here is a standout, showcasing Ferrie’s mastery of blues and R&B stylings. The song’s outro/coda shifts gears stylistically, adding extra interest and reinforcing the sense that this mini-LP is a deliberate showcase of range rather than a stopgap release.

“Man’s Best Friend” slows things down. Short and sweet, it leans into a more melodic, countrified guitar style and functions almost as an instrumental showcase, highlighting Ferrie’s touch and restraint as much as his technical ability.

The clear highlight arrives with “Dreams.” Evoking the Peter Green era of Fleetwood Mac, the song also carries a foggy, lysergic haze thanks to Ferrie’s croaky vocals, which recall Jason Pierce of Spiritualized. Imagine Peter Green joining the Velvet Underground and you’re not far off. It’s the standout track: a great song anchored by expressive, emotionally charged guitar work.

The mini-album closes with “A Town Called Universe,” a cheerful, upbeat little ditty that feels like an old folk classic rediscovered. It’s a warm, unpretentious ending that rounds out the record nicely.

As a whole, ridin’ the wave succeeds exactly as it needs to. If this mini-album really is a placeholder until Ferrie finds a permanent home in a band, then it’s a perfect one: a concise, confident statement of his guitar talent and his flexibility as a songwriter. It leaves you genuinely curious — and excited — to see where he goes next.

https://open.spotify.com/album/2i2zf9cnWO8IvKC0okNKet?si=BsZnDFOmSZeX0H9ktzsKYw