Singer-songwriter JP Oldfield combines dark folk, blues and Americana on Saltwater Gospel, a six-track concept EP inspired by maritime folklore. The release tells the story of a Ferryman caught between life and death, with Oldfield using each song to explore a different part of his troubled journey.
The songwriting is particularly intriguing in the way it handles the Ferryman’s decisions. Rather than presenting him as a hero or villain, Oldfield gives him understandable motives while showing the harm his actions cause. His grief leads him towards revenge, and his attempts to put things right only make matters worse.
“The Preacher’s Noose” explores how the Ferryman uses religion to justify violence, while “Wash Me Away” deals with the guilt that follows. Elsewhere, “Further from Heaven” introduces an angel whose warning is ignored, leading towards the flood described in “Heavy Was The Rain”.
These events allow Oldfield to cover several subjects without losing the main storyline. Questions about justice, faith and personal responsibility appear throughout the EP, with the consequences of earlier decisions becoming increasingly important.
The music combines resonator guitar with Oldfield’s naturally deep vocals, drawing on his blues and folk influences. His arrangements give the lyrics plenty of space, particularly as the story moves between personal loss and wider destruction.
Saltwater Gospel also includes artwork created by Oldfield using traditional linocut techniques, alongside his own written mythology.
Most interestingly, the EP shows how Oldfield uses songwriting to connect personal experiences with wider questions about human behaviour, bringing its six tracks together through a carefully developed narrative.