It’s been 12 years since we’ve heard anything new from The Flatlanders, but the veteran Texan trio of Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock return this July with Treasure Of Love THIRTY TIGERS. The pandemic has enabled them to finally complete the sessions they began some time ago, produced by multi-instrumentalist Lloyd Maines and Sharon Ely. Expect a handful of originals alongside covers of George Jones, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt and more. Best known as a founder member of The Walkabouts, Chris Eckman is now onto his fifth solo album. Where The Spirit Rests GLITTERHOUSE, also out in early July, finds the singer-guitarist delivering what he calls “an internal dialogue between a person and the outside world. It’s a very insular voice, kind of like those Samuel Beckett rolling monologues.” His vision is nevertheless realised with the help of various others: co-producer and electronic composer Alastair McNeill, plus pedal steel player Chuck Johnson, ex-Green On Red keyboardist Chris Cacavas and leftfield violinist Catherine Graindorge, whose CV includes PJ Harvey and Nick Cave. Meanwhile, the tireless Willie Nelson has co-written another book with his good friend, actor, author and campaigner Turk Pipkin. Out on Harper Horizon in late June, Willie Nelson’s Lette rs To America is a series of dispatches on personal heroes, family members and his nation’s past, present and future. It also includes Nelson’s reflections on many of his own lyrics.
ROB HUGHES