rescuing musical virtue in distress.
Silverback Colony, (great name by the way) has been a revolving door for the great and the good of the musical world since its inception nearly a decade ago, with one permanent member in the form of the beard-stroking Gabriel Douglas at the helm of the musical ship. Here, aided and abetted by multi-instrumentalist Kai... Continue Reading →
Even up until about a year ago I was bemoaning the fact that, despite the way the world was turning, music still seemed to lack any political bite or social messaging, had forgotten what a great platform it had in favour of serving itself, was about the “me” rather that the “us.” Where was the... Continue Reading →
Nothing Is Like It Used To Be is a song with a very simple message. Whatever you're going through, whatever you are dealing with, wherever you are headed and for what reason, it’s a totally new experience. Others might have done something similar but it is by throwing you, the individual, into the mix which... Continue Reading →
I tend to listen to new music in my car on my commute to work, I can settle down without interruption and simply take in the music that is on offer, I lean towards the music that unfolds and has a story because it works so well with my daily journey. Upon reading that Justin... Continue Reading →
Twerk &Twang covers a lot of ground musically speaking and that generally suggests one of two scenarios. Often new artists will find themselves unfocused, unsure of their own musical identity and so dabble in all manner of sounds and styles. But Klaus Patzak, the man behind Broken Radio is anything but new to the game... Continue Reading →
Although opening salvo Vein of Blue might lull the listener into a sense that Cowboydelic is going to be a fairly straight down the line country collection, by the time the second track, Muck, arrives you realize that this is going to be a much more interesting prospect. It is also at this point that... Continue Reading →
The art of painting makes for a great allusion when it comes to describing music. Some pieces are built of riots of colour, paint liberally applied and full of texture others are fashioned from delicate washes used in harmony with the emptiness of the blank canvas to merely outline the subject. In such an analogy,... Continue Reading →
The new album, Things I Don’t See, encompasses a wide range of very American sounds and styles, which in turn suggests an interesting musical back story, can you tell us a little about your musical journey which gets you here? Kevin Daniel: I have been a musician my entire life, and like most musicians, I... Continue Reading →
Billy Roberts and his cohorts have always made music which wanders around within some pretty iconic parameters - country and rock ’n’ roll for sure, the occasional punky kick, plenty of singer-songwriter vibes and some slinky blues infusions. All fairly standard stuff but also broad enough sonic territories that there is still plenty of room... Continue Reading →
Used to Be is one of those songs which feels like an old friend. As soon as its classic tones come tumbling out of the speakers, its familiar country undercurrents, its late 60’s soaked, west coast, singer-songwriter vibes, its reflective and sentimental lyrics, you are immediately put at ease. But there is also that slight,... Continue Reading →
Daniel Tortoledo’s debut, solo album takes inspiration from a range of music all of which seems to fall into what you would call “classic.” Such music, encompassing everything from Neil Young to George Harrison, Bob Dylan to Devendra Banhart, not so much avoids generic labels but rather rise above such unnecessary limitations. And so does... Continue Reading →
If Bye London Bye , which helped pave the way for this release, showed Matthew Austin Hunt’s more subtle and reflective side, on this, his debut album, he gets to really let rip. American Made which acts as the opening sonic salvo is a proud statement of identity but one which rings with an honesty which... Continue Reading →
If rock and roll is all about the swagger and the spectacle and country music based around more deft and emotive song crafting, then it is in bands such as 32 Below that the two genres manage to marry up perfectly. A rock yin to a rootsy yang. As Such a Waste nearly demonstrates, the... Continue Reading →
If there is a more powerful metaphor for protection against adversity in the great American story than the image of wagons being circled up to keep out wild beasts and perhaps even wilder men, then I don’t know what it is. And whilst Love Me In The Dark’s latest release is high in detail about... Continue Reading →
Whilst I have always used a few very obvious handles to try to convey Joe Mayk’s sound -Americana, alt-rock, alt-country, indie - you know the usual shorthand of the lazy journo’, A Century Entirely seems to defy even those broad literary brush strokes. I guess all of those sounds and styles are in there somewhere... Continue Reading →
I must admit, writing this from an ocean away I don’t know the difference between alt-country or Americana, I can’t really tell you where country music becomes bluegrass or even folk music. I’m sure, like genre debates across the world, no-one will ever really agree where these demarcations lay and to be honest does it... Continue Reading →
Inhabiting a space somewhere between contemporary country and bluesy southern rock, Judgement Day both sits comfortably within traditional sounds and pushes boundaries too. There is a lot that fans of such southern sounds will warm too immediately (though it should be noted at this point that David is actually from North Dakota but geography has... Continue Reading →
Four albums in and still sounding like the bastard sons of Steve Earl and Ryan Adams and like those two purveyors of alt-country, The Southern Sessions is brimming with songs that straddle the country/rock divide. Someone once told me that the difference between country music and Americana is the boots. The former sports shinny, Crome... Continue Reading →
If you have ever heard a room full of people yelling “I hope your husband dies” in some harmoniously sloppy, drunken unison, then you will have stumbled into an Amigo The Devil show. Danny Kiranos, better known as his musical alter ego, has spent the last few years challenging the expectations of traditional folk, country music purists and rock/extreme metal fans... Continue Reading →
It’s probably a lazy reference from a journalist from the wrong side of the water but at that point when Angelia kicks in, I'm reminded of hearing Steve Earle for the first time. A rocker masquerading as a country player, a writer of great, accessible tunes in which were concealed some fine, heartfelt lyricism, a... Continue Reading →
Having a sound that can fall easily into two genres can be an advantage, you can pull in an audience from two places but it can be a difficult thing walking a line between two sounds. You don’t to veer too far into one because you also want to stay true to the other, but... Continue Reading →
Welcome to the world of Irish country music! There is a considerable and committed audience for American country music in Ireland, to the point where it’s often impossible to work out where the artist comes from. This is the case here. I guess the biggest compliment I can give the recording is it’s an album... Continue Reading →
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you are lucky enough to have a platform for your music then not using it to make a point is a wasted opportunity. Some points can be fun and frivolous, others can be deadly serious. Deep in the Water is definitely the latter bracket. The... Continue Reading →
A recent listen to the audio track for Ghost Train told me everything I needed to know about this cool number from Mark Henes. But sometimes a good video can help to underline its attraction and sonic qualities, as well as the artist’s abilities as, not only a songwriter, but as a performer too. And... Continue Reading →
If, like me, your first encounter with Mark Henes’ music was the low-slung, gutter rock infused Strip Me Down, you might find that as Ghost Train’s dulcet tones wash out of the speakers you quickly double check that this is indeed the same person. Well it is, and the fact that the two tracks are... Continue Reading →
There is a lot to like about the new album from Americana duo Silver Lake 66 – otherwise known as Maria Francis and Jeff Overbo. It’s pretty much a tried and tested formula but one that has been successful for decades so is pretty sure of finding an audience. The thing that will stand out... Continue Reading →
Judging by the inlay notes to the album, Ed Dupas has put a lot of thought and emotion into this album. This is a good thing, nothing good ever comes from a half-hearted attempt at something, especially when the something you are creating relies on emotion to get it completed. It’s pretty obvious this is... Continue Reading →
Last time out I used references such as 10,000 Maniacs and Cowboy Junkies as easy labels for Heathcote Hill’s lilting, country infused charms. This time around I would also add Fleetwood Mac to that list, there is something of the Rumours era vibe seeping into the music which is never a bad thing. And if... Continue Reading →
Compliation albums serve two main purposes. Firstly they are a way for record companies to get a second bite of the (usually pop) cherry by putting out a bunch of songs whosecommon denominator is teen appeal rather than genre or style. Ker-ching! Secondly, and more integrally, they can act as a sampler for music by new... Continue Reading →
Sometimes it is all about being in the right place. A place that makes you happy, that inspires, that connects to something less than tangible and brings something out of you that you may not even realise you had. And so it was that Andrea Cola found himself at the iconic Esplanade Studios in the... Continue Reading →