Joe Hodgson - Fields Of Redemption

​Joe Hodgson

Fields Of Redemption
self-released; 2025

TOP ALBUM
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By Matt Jensen

Northern Ireland’s Joe Hodgson doesn’t just play the guitar. He speaks through it, wrestles with it, and sometimes lets it unravel into something unexpected. On Fields of Redemption, his second solo release since 2020’s Apparitions, the Ballymagorry-born guitarist expands his hybrid of rock, blues, jazz, and Irish folk into a dynamic and emotionally textured collection. Even with fifteen tracks, the album feels concise. It clocks in just over forty minutes and never loses its grip.

“Shapeshifting” comes out swinging. The speed of the guitar work is dizzying, but what caught me off guard was how often Hodgson pivots his tone and structure. There are flickers of bluegrass that dissolve into something closer to a rock opera. It doesn’t feel showy.

​It feels intentional. “Stick or Twist” is chaotic in the best way. At first it sounded like Primus colliding with AC/DC, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. But on repeat listens, I started to enjoy the erratic transitions. They give the song a kind of restless charm.

“You I Think Of” settles into a dreamy haze, capturing that weightless early feeling of falling for someone. It’s tender without being sentimental. Then “Give Her What She Wants” brings the energy back up, playful and loose. I especially loved the way percussion drives “Woman,” adding shape and tension in just the right places.

“Since You Had A Hold On Me” features vocals from Glen Harkin and lands firmly in classic blues territory. It’s familiar but well executed. “Blocking It Out” nearly overwhelms with sound in some sections, while “Digging For Dirt” taps into a rockabilly edge with some of the tightest transitions on the album. One of my favorites was “Ducking and Diving.” It blends rock, country, bluegrass, and Americana in a way that feels surprisingly effortless.

​Fields of Redemption is more than a technical showcase. Hodgson taps into a range of moods and textures, building an album that feels purposeful and alive. His playing is expressive without ever needing words, and the emotional throughline never gets lost in the flourishes. This record stuck with me. It has grit, clarity, and a sense of conviction that feels rare.

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