Album Review: William Prince, Gospel First Nation
William Prince is having one hell of a year. Reliever, his album released this spring, broke through in both sales and critical attention. With slick production courtesy of David Cobb, it seems intended for a general audience. Gospel First Nation, is a smaller, more interior album. It’s less slick, with stronger, less tenuous vocals.
The Gospel can be evangelical and Prince has an ecumenical heart, but Gospel First Nation has deeply personal moments. There are songs about how the Lord helped him stop drinking (Higher Power), and songs about the loss of family members (When Jesus Needs An Angel). It is an album that appears to be for his people, with any audience who are not Indigenous welcome as guests.
The depth and openness of how Prince imagines the church has a richness that allows for the sentimental, the postcolonial, and the humane. Part of that imaginary is the inclusion of Patti Kusturok on fiddle - incorporating traditional Métis fiddle sounds, in full Manitoba style, though Kusturok is not Métis herself. Her work here is some of the best traditional fiddling I have heard.
The depth of feeling here is matched by a consummate technical skill, resulting in Prince’s best album yet.
Gospel First Nation was released October 23, 2020 on Six Shooter Records.
Listen to it here.
Featuring original songs by Ken Harrower and Johnny Spence performed live alongside a country band.