The Julie July Band have established themselves as a tribute to the traditional period of British folk-rock and at the same time establishing a sound that is uniquely theirs, and "Risky Game" shows precisely why they have received such a strong following. This song beats with a blues-rock vigour that is eternal and instantaneous, supported by the warm-throated vocals of Julie July - that unequivocal, expressive tool that has become the business card of the band.
What immediately catches your eye is the music itself. The guitar performance here is heartfelt and confident and throws its bluesy lines that provide the song with its emotional foundation, and rhythm section get into grooves that are natural but intentional. It has a kind of instrumental elegance all the way through, a richness of sound that addresses decades of shared experience without ever getting too overwrought or indulgent.
The song gets into the emotional subterrain of the complications of love - the temptation, the tension, and the stakes that are involved when hearts are at stake. The delivery of Julie gives all the touches of this story, and she passes so easily through the tenderness of vulnerability to strength of conviction. It is sincere but not melodramatic, natural in a manner that the modern production is often deprived of.
Risky Game is perfectly placed in the storey of the Flight of Fancy album, as it has demonstrated how the band could blend the roots of other artists such as Fleetwood Mac and Dire Straits without losing their identity. The rhythm is just perfect and the song is able to breathe but at the same time the song has a momentum and the five part harmonies are not overloaded on the arrangement.
It is songcraft at its best, grounded in tradition, but with heart and performed by musicians who know that technical excellence is subservient to the song and not vice versa. The Julie July Band keep on demonstrating that they are one of the best contemporary folk-rock bands in Britain.
