There are many who say award-winning The Wandering Hearts are “the real thing”. But “UK Americana” by its very nature offers something of a dichotomy – there are those who prefer their Americana strictly American.
If the music is roots, folk, in any way country, a little pop/rock or a little bit indie, the danger is falling between hurdles of various size, relevance and reputation, from the superb, supreme and seminal Lady Antebellum (who “woke” up one day to become Lady A) to The Civil Wars and even Jason Isbell or The Americans (you know, The Americans? From LA? 2017’s I’ll Be Yours? “Proper” Americana – in my opinion at least).
This second album from The Wandering Hearts – now a trio, AJ Dean-Revington, Tara Wilcox, Chess Whiffin – is expertly performed and finely produced. The songwriting is of a consistent standard throughout while the guitars, other musical accompaniment and arrangements are spot on. The voices and harmonies are great.
But there’s little depth, edge or “real life”, despite best efforts and intentions. Lacking a distinctive or trenchant identity, it is safe and pleasant if never fatally bland.
Opener Hammer Falls starts sparsely then sultry and builds nicely to set the scene and tone. Over Your Body sounds like Fleetwood Mac, with male voice AJ soulfully to the fore before the three-part vocal harmonies do their already familiar thang, and Build A Fire is a whipcrackin’, handclappin’ Dolly mixture of a singalong ready to become a live favourite. Other highlights include Gold – going back to the Mac – and Dreams, which lifts the mood like a happy hobo moseying on down the road with one foot fixed comfortably in the past (ultimately goin’ nowhere?). Never Too Late – another potential singalong – is unashamedly and refreshingly poppy, as is On Our Way. The track Dolores was inspired by the fate of the late Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries.
This London-based band’s past is already full of American history – collaborating with country legend Marty Stuart, playing Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry, opening for the likes of Stevie Nicks and the taken-too-early, much-missed Justin Townes Earle. This new album was recorded near Woodstock, NY – Big Pink country, The Band, Dylan and all that. So what do I know?
British Americana obviously has its place, and a role to play – a TV recommendation from UK duo The Shires put me on to Lady Antebellum! – and if you have already embraced the concept or think you might be willing to, you could do a lot worse than follow The Wandering Hearts, touring the UK this month, into September and beyond.
Self-titled album The Wandering Hearts is out now on Cooking Vinyl.