Photo: David Moore
David Moore’s new album, A Wink Is As Good As A Nod To A Blind Mule, is an absorbing collection filled with strong melodies, expressive guitar work and grooves that quickly take hold. It is also a deeply personal tribute to the late James Masters Patterson, who wrote, co-wrote or inspired every track. Even the title has a personal connection, reflecting the distinctive sense of humour that Moore knew his friend would have appreciated.
Chasing The Mothership gets the album off to an inviting start. The melodies are immediate, but it’s the character of the performances that we enjoyed most. There’s plenty happening musically, and the different parts bring colour and energy to the track.
The textured guitars on The Wizard stood out straight away. They sit well against the groove, which draws you further into the song without overpowering its storytelling. The lyrics and arrangement complement one another, making this one of the tracks we returned to.
Bryn Mawr begins with an electric guitar solo before the groove takes over. We particularly liked the way the vocals were given enough room in the mix. They remain clear throughout, even as the arrangement develops around them.
There’s a noticeable change of direction with Love Is The Victory. The production feels punchier here, giving the track more weight, while the performances match that added energy.
That Little Funky Tune makes good use of the stereo mix, with instruments panned across either side of the audio spectrum. Once the groove settles in, the track is difficult to resist. We found ourselves completely hooked by it. Finally, Time closes the album with another strong melody and a performance that brings the release to a fitting conclusion.
The album took nearly two years to complete. Moore reconstructed the drum parts measure by measure using MIDI from previous recordings, without AI assistance. Other contributors recorded their parts in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Albuquerque and the UK.
A Wink Is As Good As A Nod To A Blind Mule is both an impressive album and a fitting tribute. Moore and his collaborators give each track its own character, while the melodies, guitar work and carefully constructed arrangements make the collection easy to return to.
The friendship behind the project gives the record its emotional weight, but the quality of the music makes it work. Created with patience and close attention, this thoroughly enjoyable release gives Patterson’s work—and the talent behind it—another chance to be heard and appreciated.
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FVMusicBlog September 2026
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