Recorded almost entirely at White’s home studio, this, his second release of 2022 following Fear of the Dawn, is a counterpoint of sorts to a noisy world, perhaps sharing more in common with his 2012 solo debut Blunderbuss and its sense of emotional directness and artful intimacy.
All Along the Way folds in guitar drenched in Delta, sparse dub elements and Hansel and Gretel references, with White’s vocal evoking a Wings-era McCartney. In fact, a couple of songs are Beatles-adjacent, such as the romantic Help Me Along, led by a warm Wurlitzer, it is a faded beautiful devotional.
Tree on Fire From Within is a particular highlight. With its simple glassy piano melody and smooth bass lines, it seems to return White back to himself. If I Die Tomorrow is all pleasingly, radiantly acoustic, but in truth, much of this record is underpinned by White’s foundation stones — as he asks on the blues-rock shuffle of Please God, Don’t Tell Anyone — “have I proven myself to no one?”