Our Top Six Releases Dec 21
Top Six Releases
December 2021
Our Top Six Releases Dec 21
By Rob Dickens
Chris Cavill
Lionheart
Independent
26 November 2021
Chris Cavill is one of Australia’s most underrated talents and Lionheart, his third studio album, is a heartfelt tribute to Cavill’s father who passed away in 2017 after a lengthy battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
The collection of nine songs runs the gamut of emotions, a mixture of celebration of a wonderful life and the personal pain of watching his father’s health deteriorating and his ultimate passing.
Vocally, Cavill has a splendid range and the presentation here is spot on. Produced, mixed and mastered by Damian Cafarella, Lionheart was recorded between February and August this year at EOR Studios in Edithvale, south of Melbourne.
Of one of the songs “Don’t Wanna Let Go”:
“I was fortunate to be by my Dad’s side when he passed away and this song is a reflection of the moment I said goodbye for the last time before he drifted off. I didn’t want him to go, but ‘the weight that’s on your shoulders pulls you down. After 28 years battling a physically debilitating illness, his body was broken, and I didn’t want him to suffer anymore.”
Chris Cavill
The making of Lionheart must have been a painful journey for Chris Cavill, but we are the better for the release of it.
Via Annie Johnsson Publicity
Doc. Carter
High Tide For Low Times
Blowing Sand Records
13 August 2021
High Tides for Low Times is the first full length album from Corpus Christi (Texas side of the Gulf of Mexico) songwriter Doc Carter. He has, however, been prolific in other ways, releasing several singles and an EP that have slowly gained him some traction.
This next career step is ambitious and highly successful. What is particularly appealing is the gumbo of genres that he brings to the fourteen tracks contained within – country (alt. and straight), folk, rock and even a tinge of blues. The confluence of styles and the vocals are a little reminiscent of the great Will Kimbrough.
The record was recorded by long-time friend Matt Grundy and the mix is crisp with Carter’s vocals right out front and augmented just enough by Jeremy Long (keyboards, dobro and pedal steel) and David Leach on percussion, with Grundy on all other instruments.
Doc Carter is a pretty nice handle to have as well, reflecting names of some past giants of the country and folk music scene.
Via Broken Jukebox Media
Malcolm MacWatt
Settler
Need To Know Music
26 November 21
The release from Scottish and London-based folk singer Malcolm MacWatt is a timely reminder of the beauty of Celtic music traditions and how, when blended with the history of the Appalachians, derives glorious results. Not only that, the record also signifies that he is highly regarded by some impressive fellow artists.
Settler features guest appearances by American performers Gretchen Peters, Jaimee Harris, Laura Cantrell and British folk luminaries Eliza Carthy and Kris Drever (Lau) and reminds me of the wonderful collaborations on the ground-breaking Transatlantic Sessions series.
Scottish ballads and Blue Ridge mountain strings forge a backdrop of vivid stories of the past and present – wilderness, the power of nature, humility, arduous journeys, heritage and inglorious history.
The new album was home recorded, mixed at L Sound London then mastered at True East in Nashville with MacWatt playing all instruments on the album except for Drever providing electric guitar on one track.
Story-telling at its finest.
Via Broken Jukebox Media
Melissa Carper
Daddy’s Country Gold
Love Police Records and Tapes
19 November 2021
The title says it all.
Daddy’s Country Gold contains twelve sumptuous originals of classic country, western swing and jazz with Melissa Carper‘s sublimely accurate vocals reflecting the feel of seminal songs from the past. Having said that, she carefully avoids simply copying a bygone era and infuses her own personality and experiences.
Co-produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray For the Riff Raff), Daddy’s Country Gold features a line-up of Nashville’s finest session players including Chris Scruggs (Marty Stuart) on rhythm guitar and pedal steel , and guest appearances from friend Sierra Ferrell, Lloyd Green, Billy Contreras on fiddle, the iconic session player Dennis Crouch and the wonderful singer Brennen Leigh.
Gaining valuable experience in Arkansas, New Orleans, New York City, Austin and eventually Nashville, Carper has absorbed many musical influences and delivers a vintage product.
The song “My Old Chevy Van” features Ferrell:
Via Dave Laing Publicity
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Raise The Roof
Rounder Records/Concord Music Group/Warner Music
19 November 2021
Well, not much can go wrong here.
Legends Robert Plant and Alison Krauss decide with producer extraordinaire T Bone Burnett to follow-up their phenomenally successful 2007 album Raising Sand.
They select some lesser known song gems to cover ranging from country, folk, early blues and soul, performed by Merle Haggard, Allen Toussaint, The Everly Brothers, Anne Briggs, Geeshie Wiley, Bert Jansch, Ola Belle Reed, Brenda Burns and Calexico. They recruit the finest players and singers – Dennis Crouch, Stuart Duncan, JD McPherson, Bill Frisell, David Hidalgo, Colin Linden, Buddy Miller, Lucinda Williams, Marc Ribot and more.
Recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios, sessions for Raise The Roof began in late 2019 and wrapped just weeks before the world went into lockdown.
To celebrate the occasion, the duo have announced their first tour in twelve years, beginning next June at mostly open aired shows across the US, UK and Europe.
Raise The Roof oozes class.
Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band
Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band
Source Music
5 November 2021
Long-time collaborators and ARIA-award winners Tex Perkins and Matt Walker wanted to channel the great 1950’s and 60’s guitarist Link Wray. So they joined forces in Walker’s studio in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne and compiled a telling bunch of songs with a country swamp aesthetic, prominent rock riffs and plenty of atmosphere.
With the help of bassist Steve Hadley, drummer Roger Bergodaz and percussionist Evan Richards, Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band is a menacing and growling triumph with the harmonies between Perkins and Walker a complete treat.
Front man Perkins has made a habit of carefully mixing his career moves and this new project, the debut album from this combo is another clever step.
“For A Love Long Long” and “Trouble Goodbye” are particular highlights.
Via Stuart Coupe Publicity
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More Music Adventures Await!
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Our Top Six Releases Dec 21
Our Top Six Releases Dec 21
Our Top Six Releases Dec 21
