Elly Roberts reviews
The Hazey Janes: Hotel Radio
Distributed by
Measured Records
- Cat.no: RTRADCD291
- Released: January 2006
- Rating: 8/10
It's time to tune in to The Hazey Janes' first album proper Hotel Radio: it's a breath of fresh 'airwaves'.
Consummate musicianship throughout, now
expanding instruments such as banjo, viola, melodica, and pedal steel, with
some sparkling singing to boot, it makes this an audio delight.
Taking their
name from a Nick Drake song - that's where comparisons end - the Scottish
quartet from Dundee, has created a mostly jaunty-packed debut. Some
commentators cite Badfinger and Big Star an Irish troubadours Hal as
stable-mates, probably due to some retro Byrds-like jangly guitars, found on
opener Always There and Moanin' Face.
It's not all blood and thunder. Sublime
sunshine country influences pop up, due to a temporary location to the
Iberian Peninsula, and recorded at the studio of legendary Spanish producer
Paco Loco in Cadiz - check Step Into The Country.
Then there's the gorgeous
soaring harmonies, best highlighted on Katie Goes and closer Untitled. Songs
are well crafted ditties suitable for most radio playlists. They're one hell
of a band: remember their names - Andrew Mitchell, Alice Marra, Liam Brennan
and Matthew Marra.
Top tracks - Saturday and Katie Goes.
The full list of tracks included are :
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2008.
