You I Think Of is Joe Hodgson’s Single Out Now
Good Day Noir Family,
From the first notes of “You I Think Of,” guitarist Joe Hodgson casts a vivid atmosphere that feels tailor-made for a solitary road trip — windows down, the breeze flicking through your thoughts.
You I Think Of is Joe Hodgson’s Single Out Now
The track balances elegance and momentum, creating an experience that’s introspective and free-spirited.
There’s a melodic clarity throughout the piece that evokes echoes of Mark Knopfler, particularly in the way Hodgson lets the guitar speak in full sentences, not just riffs.
But while Knopfler leans into folk and blues-inflected storytelling, Hodgson brings a different flavour — one where jazz touches and rock textures blend seamlessly. His playing never rushes; it moves with intention, inviting the listener into every note and rest.
The string section adds a gentle but stirring counterpoint, lifting the soloing without overshadowing it. These arrangements bring emotional lift — a feeling not of sadness, but of reflection and quiet hope.
Hodgson introduces subtle shifts in rhythm and phrasing, with bursts of rapid-fire guitar work that flash and vanish like sunlight on water.
“You I Think Of” is more than a showcase of skill, though there are moments where Hodgson’s technical precision stuns. It’s a dynamic instrumental journey, rich in feeling and shaped by a thoughtful sense of progression.
The pauses, the crescendos, the turnarounds — they all work together to keep the listener engaged without ever becoming overwhelming.
It’s not often you hear a track that manages to be so precise yet so human. Hodgson walks that line beautifully here.
You I Think Of is Joe Hodgson’s Single Out Now!
Radiant!
Joe Hodgson is a guitarist and composer from Ballymagorry, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. His sound—shaped by a youth spent during The Troubles—echoes the wild beauty and turmoil of his homeland, blending rock, blues, jazz, and Irish influences into expressive, instrumental works.
After years performing and recording in London and touring across Europe, Hodgson returned home in 2018. His debut solo album Apparitions arrived in 2020 to widespread critical praise, with Guitar World lauding his “elite” playing and journalist Steve Newton calling him “the best guitarist you’ve never heard of.” ANR Factory hailed the album as “a modern-day masterpiece.”
Hodgson’s long-awaited follow-up, Fields Of Redemption, arrives June 20th, 2025. Preceded by two double A-side singles—The Grass Is Greener/Shapeshifting and Since You Had A Hold On Me/Stick Or Twist—the new material continues to earn high praise, showcasing a guitarist at the height of his craft.
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