QUICK PLAYS – Police Dog Hogan, Nicole Maguire

POLICE DOG HOGAN – From The Land Of Miracles

As the name might perhaps suggest Police Dog Hogan are a rabid high-energy bunch – an eclectic seven-piece, combining fiddle, finger picking banj and mandolin, drums and guitars with four-part harmonies that fuse country, pop, folk, rockabilly and bluegrass. It probably does them an injustice to describe them as the perfect cabaret act, but From The Land Of Miracles is the perfect template for a foot tappin’ good night out.

From the rabble rousing opener Better Go Now with its Pogues undertones, through some subtle balladry and mournful ballads to the beautiful acapella closure of The Banks, it’s a riveting ride. Add a few pints of ‘the heavy’ and it’s easy to see why they’re a great live draw and have drawn acclaim from The Sunday Times, the Telegraph and Radio 2.

Formed in 2009, From The Land Of Miracles is the band’s second album and in front man James Studholme they’ve a vocalist not a zillion miles in style from Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross. Produced by Eliot James (Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party, Noah and the Whale) it’s an enchanting set and one that will have punters going home with the widest of smiles from the band’s November / December promotional tour.

***1/2
Review by Pete Whalley

NICOLE MAGUIRE – What You Really Mean

There’s something of a stellar supporting cast on this debut album from Irish singer songwriter Nicole Maguire. By making her own luck, she’s been championed by Damien Dempsey and Nanci Griffiths and opened for both.

Her self-funded debut was produced by Michael Froom who aside from his rock credentials has an abundance of experience working with female singer songwriters such as Tasmin Archer, Sheryl Crow, Missy Higgins, Indigo Girls, Maria McKee, Nerina Pallot, and Suzanne Vega, to name but a few.

And while What You Really Mean is focused frimly on Maguire’s vocals and acoustic guitar, shades of colour and depth are added by Elvis Costello drummer Peter Thomas, Crosby, Stills & Nash bass player Bob Glaub, and guitarist Val McCallum (Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams). Award winning Vonda Shepard (Ally McBeal) handles backing vocals.

The result is a warm and gentle album that harks back to the Laurel Canyon singer songwriter generation of the late 1960s/early 1970s with the purity of Maguire’s vocals bearing a passing resemblance to those of Joni Mitchell.

It’s a supremely easy, and pleasant listen that will go down well on the folk circuit. As for wider success, it’s in the lap of the gods.

***
Review by Pete Whalley

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)