Country Ties

COUNTRY TIES are all about the entertainment, and precious few cliches. Bear in mind we’re talking Country here, not mawkish or melodramatic Country & Western, so this is a practical kind of music that reflects life itself. There are many songs about disappointing relationships but instead of writhing in defeat our singer seems more the vibrant champion of vengeance. I don ‘t think she takes being crossed easily. They go for jaunty but subtle tunes, driven by magnificent vocals and precise but earthy playing, good humour evident but with the music prominent and lively. Deft guitar, flowing upright bass, incisive violin and mandolin (or whatever that weird little instrument is) and clear vocal projection that whip you along from start to finish. I’m impressed, especially with the song whose title I probably have wrong, ‘The Right Type Of Wrong’, where they almost inverted their usual style for a deeper sound. Now admittedly there was a point where the singer sang that she went down to the river. I’m not saying that this didn’t happen, but whenever I’ve found myself down by a river there’s usually just some old bloke fishing, and he’s probably asleep. When country singers encounter the narrow waters there’s always some kind of redemption in the offing. Weird. She also has the biggest earrings in the UK which is handy. Any time the band fancy an impromptu game of basketball they’re good to go.