King of the blues Bonamassa runs the gamut from blues-rock to cool 40s and 50s dancehall blues to country-blues, always with a rootsy edge. Here the New Yorker heads to his second home and records at Abbey Road, an album that lets him have a late 60s/early 70s prog rock party. He’s written songs with …
Guitar and production genius Edmunds was doing roots rock before most people even thought of it, with 1970 transatlantic hit I Hear You Knockin’, producing Shakin’ Stevens debut (and the hit Merry Christmas Everyone) and working with many more stars. This 3CD set unites five albums. SUBTLE AS A FLYING MALLET from 1975 has Edmunds’ …
MDC are, of course, Brit husband and wife team Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish who have intelligently and beautifully reinvigorated the country duet over various albums. Nieve, equally of course, is the long-time keyboard campadre of Elvis Costello. Here they unite, with subtle band, to interpret 12 of Mr Costello’s finest, country-soul gems from …
Review: My Darling Clementine with Steve Nieve ‘Country Darkness’ Read More »
Nineteen albums and 292 tracks, this box set rocks and rolls through 40 colourful years. Many listeners didn’t see much beyond his hits and Top Of The Pops appearances (he was the UK’s biggest selling singles artist of the 80s) but Shaky has always been the real deal, combining rockabilly, country and boogie in a …
Mark Viator and Susan Maxey ‘Where the Road Leads’ Rambleheart Records Texas based Americana-roots duo Mark Viator and Susan Maxey showcase their raw vocals on their new record ‘Where the Road Leads’. Drawing influence from the Texas Troubadours you can clearly hear the experience in their ability as musicians and as songwriters. This is a …
Review: Mark Viator and Susan Maxey ‘Where The Road Leads’ Read More »
The Dinallos The Dinallos Memphis International Records The lead off single from The Dinallos is Kilimanjaro, what’s glaringly obvious is the high end arrangement and production – I love a B3 Organ in a country song. The second thing you notice is the effective use of backing vocals combined with Juliet Dinallo’s vocals. The third …
Steve Yanek ‘Across The Landscape’ Primitive Records The arrangement and production of ‘Across The Landscape’ compliments Yanek’s vocals well; there is room for them to take centre stage, yet each part serves a meaningful purpose. In the stripped back ‘Emily’s Eyes’, whilst the lyrics have a simplicity about them, the intricate arpeggiated guitar and mandolin …
Phil Hooley Songs From The Back Room Phil Hooley, frontman and founding member of alt-country band The Woolgatherers, has teamed up with former Nashville drummer and producer Justin Johnson for his first solo project which they recorded in Scarborough. The emphasis of this record is on the songwriting, particularly the stories the lyrics tell, all …
Parker Millsap Be Here Instead Okra Homa Records/Thirty Tigers Parker Millsap returns with his fifth studio album but it is a departure from what we’re used to from Millsap. The gritty, high energy folk music of his previously releases like ‘Other Arrangements’ and ‘The Very Last Day’, is replaced with an adventurous, kaleidoscopic sound. The …
Forty Elephant Gang Next Time Round Independent The debut album from Forty Elephant Gang has introduced them to the scene in an explosive fashion – Songs Of Praise is an audacious way to kick start a project. It begins with a catchy refrain ‘I got an open mind Lord, I got an open mind’ and …
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