Joseph Arthur
And The Thieves Are Gone

2004 was prolific for Joseph Arthur, as the young American songwriter released a stunning EP titled And The Thieves Are Gone in the last days of December. It features six songs from the same Nashville recordings that conceived the intense Our Shadow Will Remain (in my opinion the best album of 2004), confirming to everyone who considers him as the only true artist of the new millennium.

Unfortunately, this thought is shared by few people. In fact, Arthur is one of those many artists who do not find the right space in the overcrowded music scene, (neither Our Shadow Will Remain nor this EP will be released in Europe!) which, now enslaved by custom, prefers to promote kids pretending to be tough but who really just want to advertise their latest tracksuit, or talentless rag dolls who essentially do only the oldest profession in the world.
But it's better to talk about music, so let's get to the songs: we start with the dark psychedelia of Papa, where Arthur's voice gently lies in an atmosphere that is gloomy, desolate, yet fascinating at the same time. A blues-drenched guitar opens My Home Is Your Head, a mesmerizing ballad of great depth. Saviour Of The Sun is instead kaleidoscopic, painted with warm and captivating colors. Real As The Rain is characterized by a beautiful melody that gives the song an unusual charm, thanks also to a truly poetic and profound text. Anywhere With You is a vigorous and turbulent rock ride halfway between Bob Dylan and the best of Primal Scream.
The EP closes with Glass Pipe, a track developed over an electronic base that echoes the Gabriel of the '80s, while a magical and dreamy melody rises, casting spells with opiate flavors.

"Must there always be a prayer
To buy or sell"
(Joseph Arthur - Real As The Rain)