Favourite Albums Of 2019: Norrie McCulloch - Compass

I got introduced to Scottish Singer/Songwriter Norrie McCullcoch through the excellent fortnightly radio show, The Quiet Revolution hosted by the music encyclopaedia that is Adam Wilson, which you can find tucked away on Harbourgh FM on Tuesday Nights, now between 9-11pm.
Click here to see my thought on The Quiet Revolution

 That was back in 2016 with his album These Mountain Blues. Now on his 4th LP, Norrie ploughs his own furrow in the business we know as Music. Hailing from Ayrshire, he continues to release his own albums, in his own time.

This, his latest release called Compass was funded as part of a Kickstarter crowd funding exercise for which I was proud to hand over my hard earned cash.

Norrie freely admits that he is often influenced by whatever he happens to be listening to at the time of writing and recording and for this album the influences are of the American Troubadours of the 60s & 70s including Tim Buckley, Fred Neil and Ted Lucas and even the Grateful Dead.

I'd add in some Simone Felice, early 70s Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, Poco and James Taylor too.

Road Signs

Norrie records with a fluid, organic feel to his music and has done for all four of his releases.
He may not be the first Scot to look across the Atlantic for inspiration but he does so with a certain elan and panache. He is not afraid to hide his influences but to his credit he remains firmly his own man and in no way tries to adopt a Transatlantic accent.

Compass is performed by the following musicians - Norrie on Vocals and Acoustic Guitars, Harmonica and Vocals - Dave McGowan on Bass & Guitar -  Stuart Kidd on Drums, Percussion and Vocals - Shane Connolly on Drums & Percussion - Iain Thomson on Guitar & Mandolin and Marco Rea on Vocals

In and out at 40 minutes it sounds like a good old fashioned 70s singer/songwriter album and feels so much better than some of the 70 minute monoliths out there that feel like so much filler than killer. Especially if you opt for the rather lovely vinyl release which sounds gorgeous.
Every track feels placed and intended.

The album opens with the rather lovely Dear Lady Blue which brings me visions of The Band plying their trade over there in the Big Pink - kind of rambling and focused, if you know what I mean.

Next up is Road Sign, a current favourite which it's uptempo shuffle and lovely 70s style harmonies and lovely mandolin playing.

There are many shades on this album - Hollow Love with it's Waltz feel is a song of unfulfilled desire and yearning.

Compass , the title track is the 'epic' of the album with it's Peter Green Fleetwood Mac style guitar playing and it's gentle Congo accompanied smooth swing and cymbal brushes and harmonies, it sound like a mixture of old and new Mac - an interesting concept.

The closer, With You In My Life is another instant beauty - 12 String acoustic guitar, layered harmonies and softness, it seduces you into it's magic and has you instantly hitting the repeat. Perhaps something you wouldn't do if it was 70 minutes long.

Like a lot of excellent albums, it takes a long time to give up it's charms. You have to live with it for a while and let it slowly reveal it's beauty. I've always been a sucker for a 12 String acoustic and it's great to hear it in abundance in this album.

So let Norrie into your life if you like an honest to goodness singer songwriter who writes rather lovely songs and records and releases them in his own distinct manner.

You can get the album in cd or a rather lovely vinyl at his website - just click below.

The Official Norrie McCulloch Website

Twitter - @NorrieMcCulloch

FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF 2019: Jacob & Drinkwater - This Old River

Released in February, this album is the debut release from songwriters and instrumentalists Tobias Ben Jacob & Lukas Drinkwater.

Both Musicians have been around the folk scene for quite some time now and have toured and played on each others albums together on many occasions over the years but have waited until now to release their first album as a duo. And an absolutely gorgeous thing it is too.

The exciting thing about 'Folk' in 2019 is the ability for it's solo performers especially to break out of the perceived shackles of the genre to join a ever increasing band of artists just known as singer/songwriters.

This album has certainly grown in my estimation over 2019. Tobias is the main songwriter on the project (it also contains one Traditional track) while Lukas is on hand to lend his instrumental skills on a variety of instruments to the sound.

Song Of The Sun

The album opens with the lovely Song Of The Sun which pretty much sums up the feel and sound of the album. It has echoes of those masters of harmony Simon & Garfunkel and this feel is shot through the album like a stick of English rock. It builds on the equally splendid solo album by Tobias last year called A Polyphonic Life, which is also worth your attention. The duo very much seasoned in each others company and musical ability.

It's very much an ENGLISH album, stories about England, references about English idiosyncrasies and places. A Pastoral feeling album.  It also has beautiful Love Songs such as Real Love and Imagined Letter #4.

Imagined Letter #4

 

It's very much an album of feeling and like many of this year's favourites of mine. deserves to be listened to through in one go. 

The duo have also released (separately to the album )a new John Elliott remix of one of the tracks, Higher Love, which adds some electronica and sends the track into a different place while still keeping the integrity of the track.

A Higher Love (John Elliott Remix)

Although overall it could be regarded as a reflective album, it isn't morose and ends on a positive message with It's Still A Beautiful World.

You can buy the album here

click to buy This Old River

The Official Jacob & Drinkwater Website

Twitter - @tobiasandlukas

Twitter - solo - @TobiasbenJacob

@LukasDrinkwater

Favourite Albums of 2019: Yola - Walk Through Fire

For all of my Prog - Americana - Folk & Singer/Songwriter leanings, I do have a secret soft spot for a bit of  Soul. Especially what would now be classed as Vintage Soul.

There are a lot of artists now ploughing this fruitful furrow, especially in The States. So, it's wonderful to hear some home grown talent such as the lady with the fabulous voice, Ms Yola Carter aka Yola.

Yola made her debut with her EP Orphan Offering. A Country tinged offering that showcases her fabulous voice.

Orphan Country

click for an excellent interview with Yola by B Sides & Badlands about Orphan Offering

Yola's full debut is the lovely and inspirational Walk Through Fire. It was recorded in Nashville with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach in the producer's chair. And he's made a splendid job of it. With nods to Soul, Country, Gospel, American and good old balladering, it's a heady concoction.

Yola & The Clubhouse All-Stars

And I doubt you'll hear a better opening song on an album this year. The soaring Faraway Look is brilliant. A huge production number that brings to mind Bacharach at his best.

Faraway Look

Over 12 tracks, Yola takes you on a sonic journey that chooses the best sounds in the above genres to weave an album that is joyful, tearful and ultimately uplifting and perfect for those wearied by the last couple of years.

Photo Courtesy of John Morgan Photography

click for John's Official Website

Shady Grove is a lovely dense orchestrated shuffle with strings, acoustic guitar and brushed percussion. A lovely little song that has echoes of the 60s.

Ride Out In The Country is a soulful Country Ballad with lovely harmonies and multi tracked vocals. 

Ride Out In The Country

It Ain't Easier, Walk Through Fire and Rock Me Gently are three soulful country ballads which highlight Yola's range and delivery. All would sound fabulous on US Radio.

Love All Night (Work All Day) could have come straight out of a 1970s Linda Ronstadt album. Although she doesn't sound like Linda, the album very much reminds me of her 1970s golden albums like Hasten Down The Wind in sound and feel.

Love All Night (Work All Day)

And as if to prove the point, Deep Blue Dream and Lonely The Night are very much in the same vein. But it's fabulous to hear the nods to these fabulous albums of the 1970s. Dan has certainly been doing his homework.

Lonely The Night

Still Gone is the poppiest song on the album - but I mean poppiest in it's 1960s sense. It's the nearest the album gets to a Motown vibe on the album. And it's none the worse for that.

Keep Me Hear is another big ballad that ebbs and flows in a delightful way - like a heartbeat.

The album closes with Love Is Light, a cleaner more acoustic production that really showcases Yola's fabulous voice before it breaks into a handclapping and horn led finale. A fine way to sign off.

Love Is Light

So all in all a fine record that deserves some attention. It'll probably work best in the USA where  they are suckers for this kind of slick production which is a million miles from the processed Scandi Pop which we are being subjected to at the moment. At least it's real guys, playing real instruments, with some Soul and Flair

Now, if I can just get her to play Acapela Studios!!

Yola  -  The Full Session

click for the Official YOLA Website

Twitter - @iamyola

Favourite Albums of 2019: Pete Gow - Here There's No Sirens

Well, 2019 has certainly been a year of change in my household. And it looks as if it's the same in the musical world too. 

Pete Gow, leader and songwriter of the superb Case Hardin has called time on the band which has coincided with the release of his debut solo album, Here There's No Sirens. The band go their separate ways with no animosity and leave behind 4 fabulous albums of intelligent Americana. Oh, and they were fantastic live too.

Cheap Streaks From A Bottle

So, main man Pete now finds himself as a solo artist. Saying that, he often played solo shows while still with the band and is an accomplished singer songwriter in his own right, as this album proves.

photos courtesy of Martin Tyler

Pete has taken the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands as he has used his debut solo album to change direction. Both in songwriting style and sound scaping.

Pete has enlisted the help of labelmate and multi-instrumentalist and producer, Joe Bennett of Dreaming Spires fame to help bring his solo vision to life. And he is integral to the sound of the album. Choosing to take Pete's new songs and present them in a stripped back, sepia toned presentation which is both sympathetic to the music and colours it when it needs it.

And at 39 minutes it doesn't outstay its welcome and leaves the listener craving for more. Just like albums used to be.

The album opens with the elegiac One Last One-Night Stand which sets the tone for the rest of the album. Confessional lyrics, piano, a small string section and Pete's acoustic guitar. It's a stately opener.

Second track, Mikaela, brings another colour to the palette with a gorgeous organ and brass opening up the sound even more while remaining beautifully intimate.

Pete's former years in journalism have created an inquisitive mind and a penchant for current 'affairs' which are touchstones for the next song on the album, the wearily bleak, Strip For Me. The song lifted by a lovely string phrase accompanying the piano.

strip for me

The album feels somewhat cathartic and I feel Pete is taking the opportunity to obliquely confess. It carries an emotional punch which I didn't expect following the last Case Hardin album. 

The title track, Here There's No Sirens, my favourite on the album, is a gently epic slice of melancholia. 

When I look back on the album after hearing it several times I get to thinking that in his future career this could be Pete's 'Nebraska'. Springsteen fans will get the comparison. 

TV Re-Runs is probably the most 'Americana' track on the album. The genre by which Pete is best known. Again, sounding to me more akin to confessional Springsteen than the other 'Country' based artists that currently carry the Americana flag. 

I bet the Nashville Massive are looking at this album with enviable eyes and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Pete gets the call in the not too distant future to fly over there to work with some of the Music City's movers and shakers.

One Live One Night Stand - the live show from the launch of the album

I Will & I Do is fleeting, harmonic and conjures those Laurel Canyon harmonies amid the sweepingly aching strings and brass. It's short and it's sweet. And it's just perfect.

The storyteller within Pete gets its chance to shine with the next track, Some Old Jacobite King. 

I must mention here the immense contribution from Joe Bennett to this album. He is very much the power behind the throne on this record. Taking the same role as Marcus Cliffe does when recording his fellow Miracle Mile bandmate, Trevor Jones. The musical 'artist' whose production, string arrangements and multiple instrumental contributions make the record what it is. Indeed, the Jones records and this new album are very similar in approach and execution. Both very intelligently literate and emotional songwriters. 

And the drummer to the the best of UK Americana artist, Fin Kenny on Drums & Percussion.

The Listener - by Veronica Casey

The album closes with the gorgeous Pretty Blue Flowers.  A song as delicate as it's title. heartbreaking lyrics, Pete at his most confessional and music that pulls at your heartstrings.

You won't be pogoing or disco dancing to this record. Although you may be holding your loved one close and swaying to the rhythms. 

It's one of the most beautiful records you'll hear in 2019. It's also proved itself to be the first salvo in what will hopefully be a fine second act to Pete Gow's musical life.

click here for The Pete Gow/Case Hardin Official Website

Twitter - @petegow

Buy The album on CD & Vinyl from here - The Clubhouse Records Shop

Albums of 2019: David Banks - Until The End

OK, first up, the album that I've been rocking to since it's release last week. David, or Dave Banks has released an absolute cracker as he lets his debut solo release, Until The End, loose on the world. Previously a member of the now on extended hiatus, The Whybirds,

The Whybirds

 Dave released his debut, via Pledgemusic, just before they started having issues, so the cd and download are now available via his Bandcamp page - link at the bottom of this piece.

Like his previous band, it's Americana/Alt-Country of the highest order and is well worthy of your attention.

The Whybirds

The first release from the album in January was Waiting In The Rain and is indicative of the tuneful upbeat songs from the album.

Click to hear Waiting In The Rain

You can hear just how good Until The End is by accessing the album tracks via Youtube on the link below - but please buy the album - great music needs supporting and the sound quality is far better on the cd.

click to access the Until The End youtube videos

Twitter - @TheDave2000

David Banks Bandcamp Page


click for The David Banks Website