There’s something deeply reassuring about music that knows exactly what it is. No gimmicks, no chasing trends — just songs, stories, and a band playing together in the moment. Songs From the Carter Pool, the latest album from The Jim Templa Band, is very much that kind of record.
This is an album rooted in place, memory, and lived experience. It’s also a reminder of what happens when songs that once lived in isolation are finally given space to breathe as part of a band.
Captured with warmth, restraint and a quietly confident sense of identity, Songs From the Carter Pool feels like a collection shaped by years rather than months — and that’s exactly what it is.
From Solo Paths to Shared Ground
For Jim Templa, this album represents what he openly describes as “unfinished business.” After years of working solo with drum loops, the spark that comes from musicians reacting to one another had been missing. That changed when drummer Iain Bickle returned to the UK and bassist Chris Garratt joined the fold, forming a trio built on trust and musical sympathy
Rather than simply dropping old songs into a band setting, Jim reworked them — keeping lyrics intact while reshaping the music for a trio. The result is an album that feels organic and unforced, with arrangements that serve the songs rather than overshadow them.
Chris’s melodic bass work and Iain’s instinctive sense of tempo play a huge role here. There’s even a subtle nod to Tomorrow Never Knows hidden in the drum pattern of “Chasing Shadows”, a detail that perfectly sums up the band’s understated confidence.
Songs Shaped by Place and Memory
The album title is no accident. Carter Pool is a real place — one Jim grew up next to — and the songs feel anchored to landscapes, journeys and moments that have lingered over time.
Jim describes himself as a “personal experience songwriter,” often drawn to writing about places rather than abstract ideas. Tracks like “Moonshine Bay”, “Last Chance Saloon”, and “Going With the Flow” all grow from that instinct, giving the album a gentle sense of continuity rather than a forced theme
Two Standout Tracks
Two songs in particular highlight the emotional range of Songs From the Carter Pool.
“Ain’t Got You” explores the quiet devastation of unrequited love — the willingness to give everything for something that can never quite be yours. Jim doesn’t over-explain the lyric, and that restraint gives the song its weight. It’s tender, sad, and painfully recognisable.
“Indian Queens” is rooted in a real journey — long drives to Cornwall, a midsummer sunset, and the irresistible pull of a British place name that felt too good not to use. The song balances storytelling with atmosphere, grounding it firmly in the UK rather than borrowing Americana shorthand — something Jim had consciously wanted to do for years
A Timeless, Psychedelic Edge
Musically, the album sits comfortably in a space that feels familiar without ever sounding nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake. There are clear echoes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and 60s melodic sensibilities, but they’re filtered through modern restraint rather than retro pastiche.
Jim puts it simply: “I am the sum of everything music-wise I have heard.” The slightly psychedelic edge — particularly in the backing vocals — comes naturally, shaped by collaboration rather than design. It’s music that drifts rather than shouts, inviting repeat listens rather than demanding attention.
Built for the Stage
If this album suggests anything, it’s that The Jim Templa Band are built to be heard live. Jim describes the band’s performances as “energetic, dynamic, and with extended musical passages where we can stretch out.” Less talk, more action — and judging by the chemistry captured on record, that philosophy makes perfect sense
Songs From the Carter Pool doesn’t try to reinvent anything — and that’s its greatest strength. It’s an album about connection: between band members, between places and memories, and between listener and song.
In an era where so much music feels rushed or overproduced, The Jim Templa Band have delivered something honest, grounded and quietly affecting. This is music made by people who trust the songs — and trust each other.
Highly recommended listening.
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Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
