English folk troubadour Josh O’Keefe has debuted a video (by Anthony Simpkins & Reeve Powers) for his powerful new song ‘Build a Wall’. The chorus “build a wall, build a wall, and your empire’s bound to fall” leaves nothing to the imagination, a reflection on recent events and a hopeful turning tide. But O’Keefe, as always, Keeps it real…there is no room for complacency and throughout he sings of a future of fairness and equality…something we’ve yet to reach. As with his debut, he keeps things simple, something that makes his songs all the more powerful.
Earlier this year, Josh released his debut album Bloomin’ Josh Okeefe which we reviewed here.
Bloomin’ is a great debut from Josh, full of enduring songs ranging from the comic to the tragic. The arrangements are as simple as it gets, played in the old style with just picked or strummed acoustic guitar and some harmonica accompanying the strong vocals. It’s a confident approach and certainly the correct one; these tales and commentaries need no more touches to help them soar and it takes a wise and considered hand to leave them be.
Glenn Kimpton, Folk Radio UK