Roger Askew - Somewhere South Of Here (2025)

Wistful reflections and impressive musicianship from UK producer and songwriter. A man of many talents, Roger Askew has devoted much of his career to engineering and producing records for the likes of Joe Strummer, Wilko Johnson and Peggy Seeger as well as earning gold and platinum discs for his work with Christy Moore. Originally from the northeast of England, he moved south and eventually joined the well-established band Bliss, playing keyboards and Hammond organ. Now based on the south coast of England, Askew has more recently focused on writing songs for Charlie Austen and Emma Ballantine, among many others and with “Somewhere South Of Here”, comes his fourth album of original music.

As well as producing, Askew plays many of the instruments heard on the record. There are several other notable contributions, including Barbara Bartz on violin, Olly Blanchflower on double bass and Roger Nunn on drums. Charlie Austen contributes backing vocals, and Ben Tyzack adds slide guitar on ‘Sail My Ship’.

With his experience in the control room, it’s no surprise that there’s a sophistication in the production values found here. ‘Took So Long’ kick starts the album with some light western swing, all freight trains, fiddle and lap steel guitar, Askew’s tenor voice almost suggesting a Jimmie Rodgers yodel is waiting around the bend.

‘Dance With A Shadow’ is a waltz lamenting a lost relationship that pauses before a delicate outro coda featuring violin and piano that slowly fades into the reverb-rich echo of an empty ballroom:

“Now that you’re gone there’s only me
All I can do is dance with a shadow
The shadow where you used to be”.

Two companion pieces follow, ’30 Days Around The World’ reflecting on his father’s death and a global trip that was intended but never made, while ‘Blue Shutters’ brings in the album title with a search for solace:

“I need to be with the mountains, up in the cool and clear
I close my eyes and drift away to somewhere south of here”.

Changing the vibe with a funky gangsta rap, ‘Cold Hard Money’ takes us down “Shadow Alley by an unmarked route”, Askew’s menacing guitar and Charlie Austen’s vocals adding a touch of film noir.

‘Run Like The River’ restores the more melodic and reflective mood, in this case literally as the artist looks at the water, “staring back at me”. The last track, ‘Friends Together’, unsurprisingly closes more optimistically, as Askew and co-writers Chris Clark and Scott Fleming lift the mood to a rousing finale.

“Somewhere South Of Here” feels like it’s been a long time coming, with songs gestating perhaps over many years. The range of musical styles is impressive, and the songs consistently well-constructed and played. It’s easy to understand why so many artists have turned to Roger Askew for help in producing their albums or writing songs. ‘Cold Hard Money’ apart, it’s very much a personal album expressing the artist’s wistfulness and longing, the uplifting finish leaving a sense that the process of writing, recording and producing has been cathartic.