Although based in London, there are strong traces of Americana the ten story songs on Case Hardin's fourth album.
Lyricist and leader Pete Gow effectively conjures up a fairly bleak world of seedy bars, chain smokers and broken dreams. These evoke a post-Uncle Tupelo mood thanks largely to the lovelorn tone that is more Jay Farrar than Jeff Tweedy.
The eight minute opener, Poets Corner features plenty of moody musings but also some strident guitar licks from Jim Maving. The band as a whole come across like a once ragged barroom combo who have worked their asses off to get into shape. The brass backing on Cheap Streaks From A Bottle is a welcome addition to be party.
On the introspective Fiction Writer and High Rollers we get reminders of how life frequently has more in common with a black and white melodrama than a Technicolor dreamscape.
There are a fair amount of sorrows being drowned although other tracks also tend towards a more philosophical position. This includes the self-explanatory The Streets Are Where The Bars Are (The Bars Are Where The Girls Will Be).
Meanwhile, Jesus Christ tomorrow Morning) Do I Still Have To Feel This Way? has a striking similarity to Maria Mckee's 'Am I The Only One Who's Ever Felt This Way '(later covered by The Dixie Chicks).
Beyond the music, Gow is a news producer with CBS News but the songs here seem are more poetic than political.
His focus on everyday situations is reportage of sorts but instead of being a neutral observer, there's a sense that he is an active participant the events he sings about.
It may be a little overly dour and intense at times but this is a solid set of songs and these reports from the front line ring true.
