Ward Thomas
★★★
Music In The Madness
WTW. CD/DL/LP
UK’s “most successful country act” continues to ditch the country.
Hampshireborn twins Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas have steadily moved away from the Nashville country-pop of 2014 debut From Where We Stand. At the suggestion of new producer Ed Harcourt, Music In The Madness is the first Ward Thomas album to be recorded with their touring band, rekindling the warmth that was lost amongst the digitised pop-rock of 2019’s Restless Minds album. There’s little left of the country flavours that propelled Cartwheels to the top of the UK album charts in 2016, but the lush Fleetwood Mac-isms of the title song, Next To You, Joan Of Arc and Unravel showcase their knack for writing powerful choruses, while the Keane-like If It All Ends Today is all the better for its restraint. Country purists may sniff, but it’s unlikely Ward Thomas will care as they head back to the top of the album charts.