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Review: 'Hillman Lighthouse'
'Hillman Lighthouse'   

-  Label: 'www.hillmanlighthouse.com'
-  Genre: 'Alt/Country' -  Release Date: '19.3.14.'-  Catalogue No: 'HL001'

Our Rating:

From the opening of Next Train it was obvious that Hillman Lighthouse are Swedish and appear to be aiming to be the next Plastic Pals only the Gothenburg version as the album pulls away like an express train. Anders Nilssons vocals are similar to Hakan Soolds throughout. Nothing wrong with this at all, as they write good Swedish Americana with yes a Byrdsian twist to it.

Twenty Nine is a good reflection on how life has treated them so far and it seems that is not too bad with some very postcard style guitars.

Lighthouse Keeper made me smile as near the start Anders sings that you're a better man than I am Gunga Din over sweet country rock with some fine intertwined guitars from Anders Nilsson and Christian Nordlander as the song tells its tale and the guitars go all spectral.

Don't know if it's the cd or intentional but the middle to end of Change Your Mind is kinda jumpy while sounding like a cross between the Byrds and The Blasters which is no bad thing about as Cowpunk as Hillman Lighthouse get.

We Fall Come Autumn is a great song title playful and knowing and has more of a Swedish flavour to it as if Sammla Mammas Mannas had gone country with some very understated vocals it's pretty without trying too hard, laid back without half a bottle of Aquavit for company.

Goodbye Troubled Mind Is as country as they get and damn fine with it too although I'm not sure how troubled they sound.
Six Ways From Sunday is the one song on the album that passes me by every time I listen to it.

Misery Loves Company is an over-used song title this time it's about the heaviest thing on the album coming on like Gene Clark having a drunken brawl with Dan Stuart over a hurricane of guitars and flying glasses not sure who wins but damn it's good.
Time and Time Again sounds a touch tired like they are running out of ideas and they should be wrapping things up still has some nice almost countrypolitan guitar on it though.

The album closes with Clean Slate (take2) that has nice chiming guitars and good vocals it feels like they are escaping from Gothenburg and heading for the promised land of Boras rather than leaving Los Angeles heading for Big Sur hoping to go fishing in a small lake once the ice melts. A nice close to a pretty good album that is well worth checking out if you like the Plastic Pals, the Byrds or Gene Clark style country rock. www.birdswillsingforyou.com
www.hillmanlighthouse.com
  author: simonovitch

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