Josh Clayton-Felt
Spirit Touches Ground
Dreamworks
The fact that this album was so close to completion upon Josh Clayton-Felt’s departure at 32 (due to complications of cancer) is magnificent. After his early band, School Of Fish, began to drift apart and he made the decision to go solo, Josh Clayton-Felt was born. He released three discs, all of them increasingly better written, deeper, more touching. But in a rightful crescendo, it is in Josh’s case, that the best has been saved for last. Much like the character of Josh, Spirit Touches Ground is thoughtful. Songs like “Building Atlantis,” “Backwards World,” and “Too Cool For This World” are those in which to lean against a shady tree and contemplate. There are also a handful of funky songs, such as “Kid on the Train” and the title track, which offers some great guitar and brings the rock elements head on. However, Clayton-Felt seems most released in his more contemplative work, and the absolute most deeply affecting track is “Dragon Fly,” which tells of how to leave this earth. Josh himself left behind a loving girlfriend, his best friend Kaya (who happens to be a dog), supportive parents who fought for the rights to his previously unreleased material and whom without, Spirit Touches Ground never would have made it past record executives after Felt’s death, and a huge, caring fanbase who was quietly awaiting Spirit Touches Ground for a small eternity. There is a lot to say about a life so short and a body of work (six albums in total) so prolific at that age, but it’s very hard to say the right thing about someone who we won’t hear play ever again. Josh Clayton-Felt may be no longer of this world, but he has left behind work that will entertain and inspire for years to come. Josh, hope your “Dragon Fly” ride was wonderful. If there were more people like you on this earth, wouldn’t it be such a better place.
Dreamworks Records: http://www.dreamworksrecords.com • Josh Clayton-Felt: http://www.joshclayton.com
