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The Healing are a roots rock band from London in the vein of similar acts like Wilco or Kurt Vile. There’s been a trend of British acts trying to copy certain American sound, something that has admittedly always existed and in a reciprocal fashion as well, but what’s unique about The Healing is that they actually succeed. One listen to their new EP Childhood Home and you’ll be surprised to find out it wasn’t genuinely born out of the dust and dirt from America’s great wide Midwestern expanses.
The Healing sound a lot like 70s Bob Dylan, and before you start groaning or shaking your head, hear me out. Some of Dylan’s greatest and most underrated achievements actually happened during this much overlooked era, and like this EP, much of that music’s strengths lies in how careless and easy going it comes across. “No Virtue” sounds a lot like Dylan just spinning out lyrics off the cuff with a definite purpose but without a determinate path. Whether or not you actually pay attention to the lyrics, it’s just great jam music to listen to.
“Losing My Way” champions Neil Young-inspired guitar work À la his classic album Zuma, but with an interesting soul twist. A lot of the material here is much funkier and soulful than anything either Dylan or Young could ever pull off, and it’s because there’s just as many modern, alternative influences here. One of the best songs here is the title track, “Childhood Home”, a gently meandering country tune separate from the rest of the EP yet still tying into their definable and unique sound. Overall, it’s an immensely appeasing introduction from a band with so much ahead of them yet with already such a clear focus and path to get there. Childhood Home will be released August 22nd.
