This album may have escaped the radar somewhat given that both Charlie and The black Twig Pickers had their own releases out just recently in support of their recent tours but they recorded this back in May and I only came across it because word got to me it was being sold when they toured the UK together for a few shows recently. Thankfully it’s not a ‘only available at live shows’ album and is online both at cd baby and Klang. There is also a limited edition 7″ vinyl you can pick up here too.
An album of rare old gospel covers (apart from Charlie’s Where You Gonna Be (When the Good Lord Calls You Home)? it’s a masterpiece in what’s all good about country/gospel/blues. Charlie has been making waves in the UK for a few years now, he plays end of the road festival every year and is name on most people’s lips come the end, those who knew him before and those that didn’t. This is a perfect match with TBTP being the ideal band for Charlie to play alongside , mixed with a few haunting instrumentals I think the album really comes to life when Charlie’s vocal scream to the heavens especially on There aint no grave gonna hold my body down for when the band kicks in is just spine tingling gospel joy. Buy it.
Yeah ok so i may be two or three years late with this one but who gives a shit really? Well, i say two or three years late but who’s to tell these days when something is self-released, then perhaps released on a small label in their own country and then re-re-released when it’s picked up in the UK and europe? There is no official release date as such and as I say, does it really matter? As long as you are hearing about it is what’s important right?
At the moment there seems to be a few young, ballsy female singer/songwriters making their mark, there’s Caitlin Rose whose really taken off in the UK since wowing audiences everywhere she went during the summer (actually becoming the headline act at end of the road festival when the original one pulled out), a sharp tongued country girl who seems to live and play hard but also writes great country songs that belies her age.
Then there’s Audra Mae from Oklahoma who has a voice as good as anyone i’ve heard in country music in years. Her album The Happiest Lamb had critics lost for words and is someone on the rise. Her potential is staggering, check her out if you have not heard of her.
Then there’s Jessica Lea Layfield. Although she sings country songs they are mostly dark, broodingcountry/folk ballads which normally draw on personal experiences, break ups etc but she certainly has a punk edge to her that spills out every now and then, especially live. This is not a review of her album but more of a heads up on three amazingly talented young singer/songwriters who I would not like to get on the wrong side of. Jessica is about to be the opening act for Jay Farrar (Son Volt/Uncle Tupelo) on a few of his November shows. So if you are going to see Jay, get their early and see a star in the making. Enjoy.
