ALBUM REVIEWS BY JASON SIDWELL AND DAVID MEAD
ALBUM OF THE MONTH
THE BROS LANDRETH -COME MORNING (Birthday Cake) 10/10
Hankering for new songs that blend Americana (folk to roots rock) and soul? This might be the album of the year for you then, as The Bros Landreth are back with 10 songs rich in atmosphere, taste and musical craftsmanship. Joey Landreth is the singer and lead guitarist with brother David on bass, and this is their seventh album. While the songs have an evergreen vibe the production is savvy to modern trends - there’s an intimate dryness for many instruments, like you’re in the room with the band. Joey’s tasteful guitar work is worth highlighting - he favours open C tuning and a slide on his fourth finger, enticing soulful and rootsy playing. He also has a cool pedal collection that creates lots of colours; his looping for ambient harmonic settings is very creative. As for the songs, there are many standouts - opener Stay has a super dry sound, and it’s catchy too. What In The World is emotive (the guitar arrangement is rich). Drive All Night demands to be a single, while Shame is beautifully rootsy. You Don’t Know Me is very intimate with that lovely C tuning taking centre stage. Don’t Feel Like Crying is another single contender with beautiful vocals; the rhythmic drag of Corduroy, the sparse chord changes and the ambient piano contextualise Joey’s vocals exquisitely. In short, a corker of an album requiring many listens! [JS]