James Waudby’s debut record, 2023’s On The Ballast Miles, was one of the most striking and addictive finger style folk records in recent memory, so following it up wasn’t going to be an easy task. Yet, with In The Smallest Third, the Yorkshire guitarist far exceeded any and all expectations.

The first thing you’ll notice while listening to this album, is that it is at once both intimate and lush, despite being performed entirely solo. Waudby’s intricate and lyrical acoustic fingerpicking draws the listener in, establishing the mood and atmosphere of each song with the power of a full band. His distinctive hushed vocals mix beautifully with the wooden music, giving the record the feeling of a close fireside performance. Covering relatable social subjects such as nationalism, fear mongering, and climate change, often through the lens of medieval history, this is UK folk at its purest. Similarly to Nick Drake, the Hull-based singer-songwriter sounds like he could have been recorded now, in the 70s or even in the 1770s. These are timeless, subtle songs of the toilers and the tinkerers, and how their lives are dictated by the power struggles of politics, religion and even nature itself.

With coiling finger style melodies that scale and dazzle like climbing vines of dew-kissed morning glories, Waudby’s guitar work is astonishing to behold and indicative of a rare, masterful skill. If you were a fan of the fretboard dances on his first record, just wait til you hear this follow-up album.

Peaceful, melancholic and utterly spellbinding, In The Smallest Third is further proof that James Waudby is one of the top prodigies of his craft currently in action. Fans of the aforementioned Nick Drake, Michael Chapman and Bert Jansch will certainly latch onto this record immediately.

Get your copy here.

-KH