Quick plays: UNION DUKE, AUBURN, CARRIE TREE

UNION DUKE Golden Days [Release date 14.06.19]

Bridging indie rock with bluegrass and country, and laden with three, four and even five voice harmonies, Toronto-based quintet Union Duke put the pedal to the metal with their third release.

With banjo, fiddle and ukulele getting billing as prominent as Rob McLaren’s electric guitar, there’s plenty of twang, stompin’ and dancehall verve on display throughout the 13 track set recorded ‘live’ in the studio and mixed by Mark Lawson (Arcade Fire).

From the hillbilly banjo infused opener ‘Heavy Wind’, through the cool breeze of ‘Got You On My Mind’, the ‘yee-haw’ drinking song ‘Coffee/Whiskey’, to the plaintive ‘My Only Fighter’, and the country closer ‘Chasing Headlights’, there’s a camaraderie/feel good factor in evidence that suggests these guys would be a great live draw.

That said, from a ‘repeat plays’ perspective, it’s unlikely Golden Days is commercial enough to find an audience far beyond post gig ‘merch’ stall sales. ***

Review by Pete Whalley

AUBURN Game Of Faith

With semi-spoken, husky, breathy, vocals with a distinctive ‘squeak’ – that for some inexplicable reason conjure images of Cleo Laine (?!) – Liz Linten is another singer with a rather unique vocal style (last month it was Last Flight To Pluto’s Alice Freya).

Auburn are her Blues/Roots/Americana ensemble, featuring guitarist (and producer) Thomm Jutz, whose delicate blues runs provide the most sympathetic and complementary of counterparts, with Mark Fain (bass) and Lynn Williams (drums) unobtrusively filling out the ‘late night’ soundscape of Game Of Faith.

The fifth album into a career that parallels managing other artists including Eliza Carthy and Shane MacGowan, it’s probably fair to say Liz/Auburn are something of an acquired taste (Amazon reviews of previous releases – most of which which can be picked up for well less than one of Her Majesty’s pound coins – all emanate from a single acolyte).

Although dip into Game Of Faith – an album written in the last few months of 2018 in a flurry of outpouring in relation to all aspects of ‘trust’ – and it’s enchanting, mesmeric even, with the bossa nova styled Prosecco-fuelled ‘Profiles’ and the upbeat ‘It’s Not Love’ clear standouts.

But played beginning to end, the 14 tracks becomes rather formulaic and, frankly, a little wearisome. **1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

CARRIE TREE The Canoe [Release date 26.04.19]

Perhaps not your ‘regular’ folky acoustic singer songwriter, the third album by Brighton based Carrie Tree feels like a mash of Tori Amos meets Leonard Cohen.

As a result, ‘upbeat’ isn’t a word that you’d associate with the deliberately understated and at times ethereal arrangements and production of Markus Sieber (known for his ambient acoustic recordings as Auka).

Combined with his spatial and delicate soundscapes, Tree’s contemplative song writing – inspired by life’s ‘journeys’ – isn’t going to set any pulses racing or toes tapping. Instead, The Cause is one of those records for life’s quieter, more contemplative moments.

One for reconnecting with nature, and your ‘inner self’, and perhaps meriting of further exploration by fans of the likes of John Martyn, Jeff Buckley, Damien Rice and the like. **1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

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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)