It’s difficult to write about Zervas & Pepper (from here on in, known as: Zer Pepps) without mentioning their love of West Coast folk music and close vocal harmonies. They acknowledge a self-professed lifelong love of all things Laurel Canyon: CSNY, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne. A love that has deepened, especially since David Crosby also expressed his admiration for their music, which lead to him coming to a few gigs, after which, he put Zer Pepps in touch with his son, James Raymond, who not only has produced three of the tracks on Wilderland, but who also provides some delightful piano. With their style and influences, one could quite easily forget that the duo are from South Wales, a country and area that has a long, proud and inspiring musical tradition. If Phil Ryan was still alive, he would adore this album. Ryan, who for many years played with Welsh legend’s Man, along with Will Youatt, formed an amazing group called The Neutrons, who were passionate about everything that came out of the West Coast. Youatt, with James Davies, then went on to form the awesome Alkatraz, based in Port Talbot – their close harmonies were phenomenal. If this was a topsy-turvy world and it was possible to go back to 1974 and play Wilderland to them on cassette in the van after one of their gigs, whilst they were relaxing in the typical South Wales musician’s way, they would bloody love it!
