With ‘You I Think Of’, Joe Hodgson offers a memory in motion, rendered entirely through melody. The Northern Ireland-based guitarist, long praised for his expressive playing and genre-blurring compositions, unveils a new side of his artistry on this instrumental ballad, where emotional weight meets orchestral grandeur.
Initially inspired by the traditional Irish folk tune ‘Molly Malone’, the track began as an acoustic sketch but quickly transformed into something more personal. What started as an imagined tale of love in Dublin gradually became a closer experience- one that culminated in Hodgson marrying the very woman he once pictured only in sound. That she would later walk down the aisle to this very piece only deepens the song’s resonance.
Sonically, ‘You I Think Of’ is grace and gravity. Hodgson’s guitar lines are gentle but never static, weaving effortlessly through arrangements provided by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. The strings shimmer, swell, and suspend the track in a state of near-reverie. Hodgson’s phrasing is deliberate, his tone rich and calm, allowing every note to land with significance.
While his roots lie in blues, jazz, and classic rock, here he proves that technique can serve tenderness. The result is a lush, cinematic soundscape that evokes longing, joy, and contentment in equal measure.
As a preview of his forthcoming album ‘Fields of Redemption’, ‘You I Think Of’ is an arresting statement. It’s an ode to unexpected connection, to the quiet clarity of love, and to the kind of storytelling that doesn’t need lyrics to say everything that matters.