Decca Nashville (label)
02 March 2015 (released)
21 February 2015
With some live work here, radio spots there, and lots of hard work, slowly, steadily and assuredly UK Country duo The Shires have been building towards the release of their debut album, Brave. Single releases and social media means that some of the songs on this debut album will already be familiar to a fair few, but little more than a taster.
The Nashville sound pervades the album but it’s not overwhelming. Take opener Tonight which leans towards the band’s poppier side and place it next to Nashville Grey Skies which is cut along more traditional Country lines and is a song so catchy it could be soon be in isolation. What’s obvious is the variety here and this brace introduces the listener to band’s dynamics in particular Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle’s individual vocals and their gorgeous harmonies, which are the core of the songs.
Much has been made of the harmonies but they also have an ear for a tune, interesting arrangements and a laugh as in the staggering, hiccupping Friday Night and plaintive lyrically witty Made in England, the latter reminding us that they are from the ‘Shires’ despite their penchant for steel guitar.
There’s a slight bias towards the slowies with the gentle How Many Love Songs and I Just Wanna Love You, though this one does drift a little towards the schmaltzy side.
Shifting up a gear they dabble with the power ballad on Black and White, and they do rock out on Jekyll and Hyde where they’re moving towards Eric Church’s territory. It’ll be interesting to see how far they pursue this direction.
There really isn’t a naff song on the album so picking highlights is mostly redundant but State Lines does stand out as the sumptuous, big production number though it’s by no means overblown and sinks remain in the kitchen.
It is patently obvious from the performances that the band had a lot of fun making this album; it oozes an intoxicating joie de vivre. There is also no doubt that its heart beats to Country music: all the tropes are present and correct. There are signs however that The Shires are developing a sound that may well take them towards mass crossover appeal. But that’s getting ahead of things for now lets just enjoy this fine album.
