Independent singer-songwriter JP Oldfield has taken an imaginative approach to his six-track concept EP, Saltwater Gospel. Built around a Ferryman who refuses to surrender his dead wife, the release draws on dark folklore to create a story that moves from the sea to a buried angel in the desert, before reaching a dramatic conclusion.
What makes the concept appealing is the range of ideas Oldfield brings together. The Ferryman’s role provides a starting point, but the addition of an angel buried beneath the desert gives the tale an unexpected twist. When the Ferryman ignores the angel’s warning and a flood later brings disaster, the separate parts of the story come together in a way that rewards listeners who follow the full release.
There’s a real sense of creative commitment behind Saltwater Gospel. Oldfield wrote all six songs and developed the mythology himself, giving him the freedom to build the music around a story of his own making. It’s an approach that lets him explore more than one idea without losing sight of the primary character.
For a solo independent artist, creating a release with this much narrative detail is an engaging undertaking. Saltwater Gospel offers listeners something to get their teeth stuck into, combining music with a dark folkloric tale that gives the EP its own identity.
Written by Melissa Cusano
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