Album review: ADMIRAL RADIO – Heirloom

admiral radio

Bandcamp [Release date 09.09.26]

I think husband and wife team Coty Hoover and Becca Smith, aka Admiral Radio, were put on this earth to harmonise together. Throughout this whole album they lay their harmonies down like sweet butter cream on a carrot cake. One of the tracks, Swoon, you could swear was the Everly Brothers if you didn’t know you were listening to Admiral Radio. No mean feat when you consider one of them is female, and they are not siblings.

This album is a grower, but once those harmonies had caught the attention of my ears then the whole picture unfolded, and right now it’s one of my favourite albums, and I’ve played it many times

The band name comes from a 1941 wooden radio set they own, which is quite apt as their sound is steeped in traditional American music, replete with fiddles, courtesy of Kristen Harris, mandolin by Steven Davidson, pedal steel guitar and banjo by Travis Wright . Plus upright bass provided by Lyndsay Emmons, electric bass by Kenny McWilliams, Drums by Michael Scarboro, and a little piano tinkled by Moses Andrews 111.

The roots are Appalachian, and Carter Family but you can also hear touches of Dolly Parton and John Denver, all seasoned with plenty of contemporary Americana values.

Coty and Becca met whilst waiting tables in South Carolina’s Lowcountry , which has got to have contributed to them sounding so down home. The one cover is Springsteen’s Dancing In The Dark, and you can imagine them falling in love with conversations about how much that song meant to each other. It really sounds like they started each others fires with a spark. They make one of Bruce’s biggest hits sound like one of their own.

A good selection of song subjects include relationships( Jackpot, Swoon). great story telling, (Coal Mining Town, Sidewalk Preacher) , observations of life, (Man Of Means) and finishing on an exploration of self doubt, (Kind To Myself).

After five self releases they have finally been signed to new Nashville label Too Fine Records. Let’s hope this is the break they need to take them to a wider audience. They are certainly delivering the goods which a large audience seeking quality Americana would devour. ****

Review by Andy Sharrocks


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