One of the two most striking things about this album is how basic it sounds, in the best way: for the most part it's just guitar, voice, drums, with a rock and roll chug and dynamism that reminds me a little of Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (it has that same combination of groundedness and space; of electric ring and organic core), and plain lyrics that cut to the quick and seem genuinely to chronicle Cloher's lifestyle and concerns.
The other thing is the record's sheer quality, somehow still coming as something of a pleasant surprise despite how much I've enjoyed Cloher's previous albums (Dead Wood Falls; Hidden Hands; In Blood Memory), not to mention having seen her play live more than once, back in those days when I actually saw live music. There's a whole stack of frankly great songs here - too many to pick favourites, though it was the menacing crunch of "Great Australian Bite" that first drew me in.
The other thing is the record's sheer quality, somehow still coming as something of a pleasant surprise despite how much I've enjoyed Cloher's previous albums (Dead Wood Falls; Hidden Hands; In Blood Memory), not to mention having seen her play live more than once, back in those days when I actually saw live music. There's a whole stack of frankly great songs here - too many to pick favourites, though it was the menacing crunch of "Great Australian Bite" that first drew me in.
