Quick plays: ANGELA PERLEY, ANNIE KEATING, SESSION AMERICANA

ANGELA PERLEY 4:30 [Release date 30.08.19]

With two albums, and a clutch of EPs behind her as the lead singer of Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons – a rock ‘n’-roll band from Columbus, Ohio imbued with country, blues and psychedelia influences – 4:30 sees Angela Perley branch out with her first solo-effort.

That said, with her being the Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Wolves songwriter, and 4:30 being put together with her long-time collaborator Howlin’ Moons guitarist Chris Connor, the album is very much one of evolution, rather than Perley departing on a different path.

With a retro ‘summer of love’ feel that extends as far as the sixties style artwork, 4:30 is a lovely record with Connor adding some wonderful swooping country flourishes. A mix of wistful pop, and driving indie pop/rock, it’s an album that should appeal to Jenny Lewis fans, with the former material – ’4:30′, ‘He Rides High’, and ‘Don’t Look Back Mary’ perhaps being the pick of the bunch and arguably best suiting Perley’s wistful vocals. ***

Review by Pete Whalley

ANNIE KEATING Can’t Stand Still 8th Street Studios [Release date 30.08.19]

Since our first encounter with Annie Keating with For Keeps (2013) – an album that signposted her crossover potential with the inclusion of ZZ Top style Southern boogie, a mash of Madonna and Isaac Hayes styles, and a heart melting Neil Young cover – we’ve been somewhat underwhelmed by the downbeat melancholy that pervaded Trick Star (2016) and last year’s Ghost Of The Untraveled Road EP.

So it was welcome news that her new six track ‘mini album’ Can’t Stand Still mixes ‘a new rock direction’ with the Brooklyn-based singer songwriter’s American acoustic roots.

It could be her partnering with songwriter Dan Mills, but yes, the EP does blow away the malaise of previous releases, and while the opening pairing of rumbustious ‘Beholden’ and the Jagger/Richards-flavoured ‘$20′ won’t be to everyone’s taste, the organ imbued lazy swamp blues ‘Mother Of Exile’, the laid-back ‘Sun And Moon’, the driving ‘Boxes’, and a beguiling cover of Cat Steven’s ‘Trouble’ (from 1970′s Mona Bone Jakon) all ‘cut the mustard’.

A real upturn in form, and a direction she’ll hopefully pursue, although at times the vocals were a little too buried in the mix for my liking.. ***

Review by Pete Whalley

SESSION AMERICANA North East [Release date 13.09.19]

A curious release / format – Session Americana is a Boston based project that brings together a rotating collective of singers and multi-instrumentalist to celebrate America’s rich musical heritage.

Strangely absent any detailed contributor credits, their 7th album as the title suggests, explores popular and folk music from the North-Eastern United States including songs as diverse as James Taylor’s ‘Riding On A Railroad’, Donna Summer’s ‘Dim All The Lights’, Jonathan Richman’s classic ‘Roadrunner’, and Patty Griffin’s ‘Goodbye’. Digital downloaders get three ‘bonus’ tracks including Carly Simon’s ‘Coming Around Again’.

And it’s all very tastefully done – a bit like an Americana juke box, or open mic session, with layers of fiddle, pedal steel and harmonica added to the original blueprints and featuring some excellent vocal performances.

I’m not sure who the target market is, but there’s no denying this would make for very fine, relaxing, coffee shop ambiance. ***

Review by Pete Whalley

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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)