Still under the radar - Reviews roundup

When you have been reviewing for a bit, you inevitably end up on the mailing lists of some of the P.R. companies. Talking to our editor at Americana UK the other evening he believed at least some PRs get it badly wrong when blanket mailing their music out for review. Thrash Metal and R&B are never going to be AUK's bag so why send it. Information filed away for acting on in my own Marketing 4 Music venture, where I do try hard to match up the recipient with something they may actually be interested in. 

One company that gets it spot on is Dutch promoter Continental Record Services. I reviewed their fab new album from Robert Jon and The Wreck over at AUK recently.  This led me onto their mailing list and to hearing some more of their artists. They focus on the singer songwriter, Americana and roots corner of the forest, and the quality of their releases is remarkably high.

Emma Swift’s ‘Blonde on The Tracks’ is a case in point. An album of Dylan covers is hardly a new idea, but Swift’s Australian background possibly separates her from some of the reverence for Dylan that always seems present when Americans cover his songs. She just sings them. ‘Queen Jane Approximately’ drips Dylan and Emmylou Harris in about equal measure.

Swift says; “The idea for the album came about during a long depressive phase... the kind where it’s hard to get out of bed and get dressed and present to the world as a high-functioning human. I was lost on all fronts no doubt, but especially creatively.” Her Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” reflects this, closer to Hope Sandoval than Dylan, and for me one of the best songs of the year so far. These are just two highlights in an album full of not quite obvious song choices. The videos that go with some of the songs are also worth a watch. Highly recommended.

Southern Rock from the Netherlands, who would have thought it? Copperhead County did and their album due out about now ‘Brothers’ is proof it can be done. Opener ‘Be Different’ shows why they named themselves as they did, more than a touch of Steve Earle about it. The guitars are quite Rolling Stones in places, but the influences don’t overwhelm the songs. The Neil Young flavoured title song is especially good. Other songs live in roughly Tom Petty territory. Another fine album.

I’ve never really dug into Cajun or Zydeco music but Cary Morin’s ‘Dockside Saints’ may be changing that. I’ve been playing this for a few days now and it continues to grow on me. Bits of rock, jazz, and blues mix with the Southern influences. Some of it reminiscent of Willy DeVille’s later work – which is a good thing. Best song by a country (swampy) mile is single ‘Come the Rain’.

Over the last few months, I have been featuring more and more independent music here and that is because that is where the action is. Find Continental Record Services roster at Bandcamp and support some cracking good music, from a company that is promoting artists who we wouldn’t otherwise get to hear.