Reviews roundup – Berdon Kirksaether vs. Haliwel vs. Etta Britt vs. Lighthouse
BERDON KIRKSAETHER & The Twang Bar Kings
Latenighters Under A Fool Moon
Roller Records
Well now, “Latenighters Under A Full Moon” is certainly an interesting way to start off the reviews today. See, it’s, deep breath, “an all-instrumental concept album relating the story of a tight-knit group of male friends on an all-night bender one Saturday night”
Which, whilst an excellent way to spend a Saturday, doesn’t seem like much of a concept to hang your hat on. And the opening ‘Go Cat Go’ is a dreadful mess. I’m not sure what’s it meant to be conveying, but it took all my willpower to keep my hand away from the skip button.
But it does get better, especially when a good blues riff is hit upon, which is why ‘Jumping The Night Away’ is my favourite. Berdon Kirksaether is a well known Norwegian guitarist, singer and songwriter on the Norwegian blues scene, and I can only assume he wanted to stretch himself across various styles and moods.
I can’t claim that it worked for me, as it seemed more like a soundtrack in search of a film, but fair play for trying.
HALIWEL
From The Inside
independent
I got all excited there, as I thought that a one time Spice Girl had gone metal. Sadly Haliwel (with one L) are no relation to the sainted Geri. Rather they are an up and coming American post grunge / mainstream rock band, releasing their debut LP.
Sadness and disappointment aside, this Haliwell are rather good at what they do. It’s the sort of thing you would expect from people who buy Creed albums. There are some nice riffs, some impassioned vocals, and you can almost picture the Jesus Christ Pose at the front of the stage.
For sure, the ten tracks aren’t all winners, and there is probably a much better EP lurking within the grooves, but if they can build upon the likes of ‘Undone’ and ‘Original Sin’, then there is a college radio career out there waiting for them.
ETTA BRITT
Etta Does Delbert
independent
I remember the name Etta Britt from way back in the day. But I remember her as a country singer. And praise to be Bing, but I was right. She won CMA vocalist of the year for five years running as part of the Nashville-based trio Dave and Sugar from 1979-’85.
Turns out though, that the 21st century has seen her turn to R&B the way it used to be, and following on from her 2012 album, “Out Of the Shadows”, where she duetted with the legend that is Delbert McClinton, this sees and entire album of McLinton songs.
And by crikey, but it’s good. It’s hot and it’s nasty, and it’s sweet and it soars. It’s a peach of a record. Songs like ‘Every Time I Roll the Dice’, ‘Old Weakness Coming On Strong’ and ‘When I Was With You’ are just magnificent. And that’s not to say that the others aren’t just as good, because if you ask me tomorrow, I’ll rattle off a different trio.
Absolutely essential listening.
LIGHTHOUSE
Lighthouse
Moody Maraccas
And finally for today, we’re off to Sweden, to listen to an Americana duo. You know it makes sense. Although this is the debut album from Lighthouse, the folks concerned – Mats & Linda Brandemark – have plenty of form.
They’ve been involved in outfits like Big Road and Red Valley Band, but this release sees them trying to straddle the worlds of country and contemporay pop, with an Americana swing. And some of it works ver well.
When they whip out the mandolins, lap steel, banjo and pedal steel, and get their twang on, then it’s an enjoyable listen. And there are some good songs in there as well. The best of them include ‘Darkness (Hides Behind The Sun)’ and ‘Queen of Hearts’, and with some excellent vocals and musical perrformances, this might be the one to get them some well deserved attention.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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