“My country heart, is yours from the start” sings Michael Gallagher, aka The Mining Co. over plaintive pedal steel and acoustic guitar, and instantly we’re transported to the Laurel Canyon, or at least to a scorched dustbowl somewhere in the mid Western States. Except Gallagher is from London, albeit with Irish roots, and with the opening track Country Heart, he might just have set the scene for an Americana gem of an album.
Due for release in early March, the album treads a path somewhere between Mojave 3 and Phosphorescent, although more classic influences are obvious too. This is both a traditional and modern album full of widescreen and spacious tunes about love and loss, and while never in a hurry, the 9 tracks on show run at just under 30 minutes.
Cover of Night introduces some keyboards to the backdrop, and again you would swear this had come from the States.
Ballad of The Mining Company is a heartfelt song about a driver working down a mine all day, without daylight and love in his life - a beautiful track that just reveals itself a little bit more on each listen.
Copper Ghosts is the nearest we get to something you would describe as uptempo, and also introduces a female backing vocalist, minimally admittedly, but it just adds that little something to the track and indeed the album.
The ubiquitous banjo in country music is used sparingly, making an appearance in penultimate track Lonesome Bird, and this is also the first track that hints at Gallagher’s Irish accent and connections.
Closing track Keep on Rollin’, all 1 minute 40 seconds of it, is an unashamed country ditty.
This is an album to keep us warm during these cold wet winter months, and almost matches the wintry mood of the country while giving us a glimpse of optimism for the summer months ahead. It’s a lovely slice of Americana, alt country and alt folk all wrapped up in a small and bijou, but perfectly formed package.
8/11
Keith
