Never having been a follower of singer-songwriters such as James Taylor and Cat Stevens, there was a danger I could have overlooked the first album from John Aldington, a modern day solo artist who is compared to those early-70’s stalwarts. However, having been enchanted by his contributions on Sitting Target label’s ‘The Germinal Disc’ compilation, I have been looking forward to listening to his works again. Like a cross between the starry-eyed romance of Gilbert O’Sullivan and the gritty intimacy of The Montgolfier Brothers’ Roger Quigley, there is something magical about the songs of Aldington which transcend nostalgia and sound fresh and alive.

Aldington is a narrator of romantic tales; one such story is ‘It’s Too Late’ where “hearts get broken” and the gentleman at the centre of a love triangle has “got a woman at home”. It’s a simple subject but one where Aldington’s old-fashioned style of songwriting works extremely well. Indeed, by voicing third-person disapproval in his lovely, haunting tones and employing addictive key changes, this song and most of the album are elevated to something special.

Not many artists could get away with “Looking back through the years of that endless summer” and “some dreams get lost along the way” (as on ‘Looking Back’) but Aldington’s performance in front of the mic seems so pure and unsullied that the innocence is captured perfectly; the fact that he accompanies it with a fine piece of jangly guitar certainly helps too. Similarly, the beautiful ‘Growing Pains’ aches with melancholy and is another stunning track.

Whilst listening to his songs, I can almost visualise Aldington sitting on a sturdy tree branch and observing another failed love affair from afar. He shakes his head sadly and then is inspired to write a new tune about what he has just witnessed.

My overactive imagination aside though, ‘Songs From The Garden’ proves that Aldington is not only a fine vocalist and tunesmith but he has also captured that lost art of storytelling. More of the same next time please.